OPINION: Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says: ‘We are the best, now let’s prove it’

QUEENSLAND is the best state in the best country in the world, but we can be even better. “Go Queensland” is more than a slogan. It is a mission statement that binds us together, helping make our great state even greater.

Brisbane city central business district

QUEENSLAND is once more a state of opportunity and hope. My Government knows the best measure of opportunity and hope is the promise of work.

That is why, over the past 14 months, we have focused on job-generating projects and programs with the private sector, and a reassured public service.

When we came to office, Queensland unemployment was at 6.6 per cent. It is now 5.9 per cent. More than 70,000 new jobs have been created in Queensland to date. My Government’s priorities are threefold:

■ Investing in infrastructure to improve how we get to and from work, how our products get to market and how vital services like health and education are delivered.

■ Promoting innovation from classroom to commercialisation across industries and the state.

■ Attracting interstate and overseas investment to drive a pipeline of projects and spur additional jobs.

All three priorities are about creating jobs.

In the space of a week last November, my Government welcomed $5.1 billion in additional investment for resource and energy projects that will support up to 3260 jobs, including Rio Tinto’s Amrun project to develop the world’s largest bauxite deposits in Cape York. Picture Rio Tinto

Firstly, a $35 billion State Infrastructure Plan highlights priority projects to reduce congestion, improve productivity and sustain jobs. A $10.1 billion capital works program for 2015-16 will support 27,000 jobs, particularly in regional areas where almost half the investment is committed.

Secondly, an ambitious innovation agenda, Advance Queensland, will foster and harness our best ideas. At the end of April, international and local innovators and investors will gather in Brisbane.

Finally, we are working with overseas and local investors on a range of projects. My ministers will undertake trade missions to create new opportunities.

Similarly, I am prepared – as we have just done on biofuels with Southern Oil – to attract business from interstate via lower taxes, availability of services and determination to attract new industries. Last November, we welcomed $5.1 billion extra investment for resource and energy projects to support up to 3260 jobs with the gas pipeline from the Northern Territory to Mount Isa, Rio Tinto’s Amrun project to develop the world’s largest bauxite deposits in Cape York and confirmation of QGC’s Charlie project.

Our focus on renewable energy has identified more than $2 billion in large-scale projects across the state.

My trade mission to Hong Kong and China promises firm commitments to invest in our state.

Our trade relationships and tourism offerings are particularly important to regional Queensland.

We need to make sure the Federal Government looks further north than Sydney. We need the Federal Budget to deliver for Queensland and we will unashamedly use the election campaign to get commitments from both Federal leaders.

In 2015, our exports rose by more than $5 billion to $49 billion despite severe drought and the mining downturn. We had a record number of international visitors, who spent an estimated $5 billion, and we saw strong growth in domestic visitations worth a record $14.5 billion.

We are determined to create more jobs, more hope and more opportunity for Queenslanders.

We know there is more to do. We know we face economic challenges.

Before the State Budget in June, the Working Queensland Cabinet Committee will have met in nine regional centres to discuss local priorities.

We also need the Federal Budget to deliver for us and we will unashamedly use the election campaign to get commitments from both federal leaders.

Queensland is the best state in the best country in the world but we can be even better. “Go Queensland” is more than a slogan. It is a mission statement that binds us together, helping make our great state even greater. It is timely that The Courier-Mail has adopted it now.