BIG Plans for Small Business!

We know that small businesses are the engine room of the Queensland economy, working across every industry sector.

That's why the Palaszczuk Labor Government has supported more than 18,000 small businesses across Queensland, through our $196 million Small Business Adaption Grants program.

Our Queensland Economic Recovery Plan has supported businesses to help keep 334,000 Queenslanders in jobs.

We've also been supporting businesses by introducing a target earlier this year - that from 1 July 2020, 25 per cent of all government purchases would be from Queensland small and medium sized businesses.

Our commitment to 'Big Plans for Small Business' is all about creating jobs and future proofing Queensland.

We have already announced $8 billion in measures to support Queenslanders through COVID-19, including assistance for workers and businesses.

We're committing to building on our support of more than $2.3 billion in tax relief, grants, electricity rebates and loans for small to medium sized businesses with another $140 million to support big plans for small business.

Only a Palaszczuk Labor Government will continue to back our small businesses to ensure they can recover, reopen and build a strong future for all Queenslanders.

Read our full policy here.

Queensland Economic recovery plan creating 55,000 new jobs.

Underpinning the plan is more than $8 billion in recovery initiatives to keep the economy moving and Queenslanders in jobs – ranging from targeted support for industry and small business, to cost of living relief for households.

Our Economic Recovery Plan is about:

• Infrastructure in our state

• Supporting small business

• Preparing for the future and teaching our youth new skills

• Empowering our regions

• Ensuring the health and wellbeing of our community.

Get informed read the Queensland Labor’s Full Economic Recovery Plan HERE

New industry-linked school training facilities and trade training centres at 26 schools promised.

Building our Future with more training, more skills, better jobs.

Our $45 million commitment to upgrade and build new industry-linked school training facilities and trade training centres at 26 schools will give students the best possible opportunity to pursue their chosen career path.

These projects will target the skills needed to diversify and strengthen regional economies, which is why it’s an important part of Queensland’s plan for economic recovery. This initiative will create at least 150 construction jobs in regional areas across the state.

This is part of our economic recovery plan which will deliver jobs and opportunities both now and into the future.

We’re giving young Queenslanders the skills they need for growing industries.

Emerging growth industries, including:

• Hydrogen

• Agriculture

• Aquaculture

• Manufacturing

• Defence maintenance and manufacturing

• Aviation and aerospace

New $40m Hospital for The Redlands!

New $40m Satellite Hospital for Redlands.

Compare this to the LNP and Deb Frecklington, who shut Wynnum Hospital.

A Satellite Hospital in Redlands will be tailored to the needs of the community and will include ambulatory and low acuity day therapy services such as renal dialysis, chemotherapy, complex wound management and urgent care for minor injury and illness!

This is a great investment for the Redlands area. It will mean our health system can continue to meet the growing demand for services and take pressure off nearby hospitals. 

RECORD RESOURCES FOR FRONTLINE POLICE

On top of the 2,025 extra police personnel over five years, the Palaszczuk Government is supporting a record roll-out of more police resources for frontline police. 

Member for Capalaba, Don Brown, said frontline police across Queensland would benefit from a record $77 million investment over five years in extra police resources.

“This means more body worn video cameras, more police patrol vehicles, introducing integrated load-bearing ballistic vests and more QLiTE iPads – all fully funded by the Palaszczuk Government,” Mr Brown said.

“Unlike the previous LNP Government, the Palaszczuk Government backs our frontline police. And when we promise, we deliver. 

“No one wants to see a return to the former LNP regime when police were forced to fund their own body worn cameras out of their own pockets. 

“It was an LNP regime that sacked more than 300 police personnel, cut vital police services, cut training, cut funding for police cars and computers, and stopped monitoring more than 1,700 child sex offenders,” Mr Brown said.

MPs Don Brown and Kim Richards with Police Minister Mark Ryan. Image: Redland City Bulletin

This fully funded record roll-out of new police resources includes:

• 5,000 additional QLiTE iPads for frontline police officers (takes the total fleet size to 12,000);

• 250 additional police patrol vehicles (takes the total fleet size to almost 3,000);

• 4,500 additional body worn video cameras to bring the total fleet to 12,000 – one of the largest in the world; and

• in a first for police, 12,000 new integrated load bearing ballistic vests to protect police while they protect the community.

“This is a record $77 million investment in the 12,000-plus Queensland police who work hard, day and night, to keep communities safe in every corner of the State.

Importantly, these vital tools of the trade for police officers across Queensland are fully funded. 

The LNP has a poor track record when it comes to keeping promises to police.

It’s always important to remember that it’s not what they say, it’s what they’ll do.

And the LNP will do exactly what they did last time they were in government. 

They will sack police. They will cut police resources. They will cut police training. 

How else will they fund the $24 billion they have notched up in unfunded election commitments so far?

As the President of the Police Union himself has said: “Police have been badly burnt by previous sneaky governments who made commitments and didn’t fund them properly”.

The Palaszczuk Government’s record shows that we can be trusted when it comes to delivering more police and more police resources,” Mr Brown said.

Queensland Labor building the second M1 for the Gold Coast

Eastern Transitway start to put families and jobs in fast-lane

Works have officially started on the Palaszczuk Government’s $30 million Eastern Transitway project, supporting 50 jobs.

 Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey joined local MPs today to turn the sod on the first stage of the congestion-tackling project, which will also lock in 50 jobs for the region as it continues to recover from COVID-19.

 Member for Capalaba Don Brown said the project was a game changer for families in Brisbane’s east and the Redlands with travel times to improve for drivers as well as the 8,000 commuters and 430 bus services who travel along the road during peak periods.

 “Our community is hungry for public transport,” Mr Brown said.

 “That’s why we’re building the Eastern Transitway: to free up traffic for buses and cars, unlike the LNP who cut funding for public transport in our suburbs as part of their $1.6 billion slash and burn on the state’s road budget.

 “With the huge numbers of people take up bike riding because of COVID-19, we’ve also expanded the scope to include a new, 3m-wide, shared path, and on-road, bike-lane improvements.”

 Member for Redlands Kim Richards said the benefits of the project would be two-fold: addressing congestion and creating all-important jobs in construction.

 "Our community’s strong response to the health impacts of COVID-19 means the Palaszczuk Government has been able to continue delivering projects like this and the $60 million Cleveland-Redland Bay Road upgrades,” Ms Richards said.

 "Investing in Queensland infrastructure means creating Queensland jobs as we unite and recover from COVID-19.

 "Our community wants more incentives to take public transport. Projects like this, the $5.4 billion Cross River Rail and $371 million smart ticketing project are part of the Palaszczuk Government's commitment to creating more transport infrastructure for Queenslanders. 

Honoured to be turning the sod on The Eastern Transitway.

 Shovels in the ground comes as consultation on the transitway officially wrapped up last month, with feedback showing the majority of the community supported the transport solution.

 “The community told us that improving environmental outcomes in the local area was something else they wanted out of the project.

 “Because project teams have consulted with environmental groups we’ve been able to look at new fauna fencing, crossings and revegetation as part of the project.”

To have your say or for more information visit www.tmr.qld.gov.au and search Eastern Transitway.