Queensland’s four pillar economy

Share |
Subscribe to the News RSS feed

18 Sep 2012

Queensland Premier Campbell Newman has begun work to grow Queensland’s tourism, agriculture, resources and construction industries to help boost the state’s economy.

To do this, Mr Newman has set several actions, as outlined on the Queensland Government website, which will be undertaken over the next six months.

WorkCover Queensland Regional Manager Customer Services, Jackie Cumming says WorkCover’s customer service model, which includes industry alignment, reflects the government’s goals to enrich these four industries.

“We’ve aligned our four customer service centres with industries, which is a more holistic approach to improve return to work outcomes and better understand employer and worker needs,” Ms Cumming said.

WorkCover will continue to work with Workplace Health and Safety Queensland and employers in these industries to help them prevent and better manage injuries.

“Fewer workplace injuries will result in more productive, efficient and sustainable businesses, while protecting the health and wellbeing of workers.

“During the next six to 12 months, we will also review our industry model and work with employers and other stakeholders to ensure our future strategies are complementary to the government’s four pillar economy.”

Industry specific sites have been developed to help employers stay up to date with all things relevant to their industry.

“People can access their industry site for not only WorkCover specific information, including injury prevention and management information, but general news and events specific to their industry. These specialised sites are a hub of useful information containing news, events and tools specific to each industry,” Ms Cumming added.

“These improved services provide employers and their workers with tools, resources and information to enhance safety in their workplace and create a positive safety culture.”

WorkCover will also ensure each industry’s plan is consistent with the government’s directions and actions to develop the state’s four pillar economy.

Some of the actions outlined of the Queensland Government website include:

Tourism

  • Improve access for tourism and ecotourism operators in national parks and reduce permit classes by 50 per cent.
  • Develop a regional tourism strategy consistent with DestinationQ outcomes.
  • Encourage the promotion of tourism destinations through the development of a Queensland drive tourism strategy.
  • Engage with key airline partners to attract new aviation business and routes into Queensland.
  • Finalise the tourism strategy to provide marketing, product development and trade events opportunities.

Agriculture

  • Call water allocation tenders under the North Queensland Irrigated Agriculture Strategy.
  • Roll out of new water metering policy for irrigators.
  • Finalise legislative changes to improve flying fox damage mitigation permits.
  • Review the overarching framework for the Biodiversity Offsets Policy.
  • Finalise agricultural land audits in the Darling Downs and Central Queensland regions for release in early 2013.
  • Commence the $9 million voluntary buyback program of commercial fishing licences.
  • Commence a process to restore access for beekeepers to native forests.
  • Provide funding to vets for protective suits to assist in the fight against Hendra Virus.
  • Commence stakeholder consultation on a 30 year strategic plan for Queensland agriculture.
  • Finalise consultation to develop a horticulture workforce plan for the next three years.
  • Invest in the future of the sugar industry by providing first funding to the Bureau of Sugar Experiment Stations

Resources

  • Commence developing a statewide approval process for wind farms.
  • Support development of the South of Embley project by amending relevant laws.
  • Improve reporting to local government about current and future mining developments.
  • Review legislation and regulation for the small mining sector to reduce red tape.
  • Work with mining companies to finalise plans for a load out facility for Cloncurry.
  • Finalise a revised Coal Seam Gas Water Management Policy.

Construction

  • Legislate to support the Gold Coast Waterways Authority.
  • Finalise the Commonwealth Games Village business case and commence work to develop a Games Venue and Village Master Plan.

All

  • Establish agreements with mining, construction, agricultural and tourism companies for Indigenous employment opportunities.