State of the State: Queensland in for ‘fight of our lives’
Annastacia Palaszczuk’s State of the State address says Queensland is in for the fight of our lives to rebuild after pandemic.
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Queensland’s economy needs to be built back stronger than it was before the global pandemic, with the premier likening it to rebuilding a home after a natural disaster.
With just over two months to go until Queenslanders head to the polls, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has delivered the annual State of the State address on Thursday afternoon.
In her address, she mentioned massive funding boosts to mental health, regional infrastructure, renewable energy, and a renewed commitment to jobs growth, and thanked Queenslanders for fighting so hard during the COVID-19 pandemic.
She opened her speech by saying how excited she was to watch her “friend” Jeff Horn go up against Tim Tszyu at Townsville’s stadium next Wednesday.
“If Jeff was here now, I am sure he would tell you it’s not the ability to fight that matters, but the belief in yourself,” she said.
“Muhammad Ali said it’s that ability to reach down and find something within yourself to keep going.
“Put it another way: it’s not how many times you get knocked down that matters: it’s how many times you get back up again.”
Prior to COVID, Queensland was in a strong economic position.
— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) August 20, 2020
The virus impacted economies around the world.
But we have planned a way forward.
Our strong health response means we're able to deliver Queensland's plan for economic recovery.#StateofQLD #qldjobs #covid19au pic.twitter.com/rnpXDRi48q
Ms Palaszczuk said there was still a long road ahead in dealing with the two crises brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We need a road map for health recovery, and a strong plan for our economic recovery...to bring Queensland’s economy back better than it was before the COVID-19 pandemic,” she said.
“I want to see us come out the other side with an economy growing faster than the rest of the nation.”
Outlining an economic recovery plan, Ms Palaszczuk said it would depend on Queenslanders continuing to look out for each other, working together to showcase the “resilience” seen so many times before after natural disasters.
“And it’s clear to me the Queensland economy can only open because our borders are closed,” she said
She highlighted a $58.1 billion infrastructure plan, developed in consultation with business and industry, and a $13.9 billion capital program for 2020-21, which would allow industry to plan an infrastructure pipeline to service the entire state.
The six key priorities of my government’s economic recovery plan are clear and concise.
— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) August 20, 2020
1. We must safeguard Queenslanders’ health – so that we remain pandemic-ready and build community resilience but, crucially, by doing what we can keep the economy open.#StateofQLD
The plan has six key priority areas: Safeguarding Queensland health; Backing small business; Making it for Queensland; Building Queensland; Growing our regions and Investing in skills.
A cause close to Ms Palaszczuk’s heart, mental health, is also a key priority.
“This global pandemic isn’t just claiming lives directly from the virus - it is taking a massive toll on Queenslanders’ mental health,” she said.
Speaking candidly, the premier spoke of receiving an email about the death of an old school friend.
“Everyone is dealing with stresses … it can have huge strains on people,” she said.
“It’s incumbent on all of us to ask ‘are you okay?’”
More than $46.5 million will be spent for increasing mental health treatment and support services around the state, saying families and the elderly were of particular concern.
“The endless coverage of what is happening in other parts of Australia and around the world is taking a toll on all of us,” she said.
“We need to all be looking out for each other.
“Our greatest resource of all is our people.”
This global pandemic isn’t just claiming lives around the world – it is taking a massive toll on mental health. My government will provide an additional $46.5 million for localised mental health community treatment and support services. @ceda_news #StateofQLD #covid19au pic.twitter.com/0F9L0H3gYS
— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) August 20, 2020
Over the next year, Ms Palaszczuk said more than 55,000 jobs would be supported.
In addition to the $1.3 billion in payroll tax relief, $1 billion in concessional loans, $200 million in grants, and $100 million in electricity rebates already handed out since the onset of the pandemic, Ms Palaszczuk said further economic aid was necessary.
“Building and construction will be a pillar of our recovery,” she said.
“There’s $200 million for a Works for Queensland program so that local councils across the state can deliver 520 local projects providing 4,600 jobs.
“And our economic response includes more than $800 million for new road projects in addition to more than $760 million for new schools, expansions and vital school maintenance.
“To support agriculture, our economy plan includes $1.2 billion in water infrastructure, supporting 2300 jobs and $5 million for wild dog fencing out west.
“We will support our resources sector, one of (our) greatest strengths.”
The Premier also promised to spend $145 million to unlock three new renewable energy corridors across north, central and south-west Queensland.
“We will map out areas within Queensland for investment in renewables - solar and wind - by supporting the delivery of transmission infrastructure,” she said.
The Premier said there was potential for up to five renewable energy zones from Cairns down to Townsville and west to Barcaldine.
“The North Queensland corridor has significant potential for demand from new economy minerals including CopperString 2.0, minerals processing, manufacturing and hydrogen,” she said.
“Achieving internationally competitive energy prices in the North West Minerals Province would mean 3500 more jobs in North Queensland - delivering the minerals needed globally for batteries, renewables and electronics.”
Across central Queensland, the Premier said there was potential for projects in the Fitzroy and Wide Bay.
“These would make our aluminium and smelting industries more competitive with strong potential for hydrogen development,” she said.
Ms Palaszczuk said a “renewable energy zone” in the South West, Darling Downs area would allows clean energy to be integrated into the grid efficiently and at a lower cost.
She said the zone would meet demand from agricultural production and could potentially help supply New South Wales.
“These renewable energy zones will support Powerlink to invest further funding and CleanCo to increase their publicly owned renewable generation capacity to deliver energy security.
“I don’t want to just deliver renewable energy zones - I want to deliver industrial zones and hydrogen hubs - because that means more secure full-time manufacturing jobs.”
The renewable energy promise was made alongside a raft of other announcements, including a pledge for $5 million for a feasibility study into a gas pipeline from the Bowen Basin, and an additional $46.5 million for mental health community treatment and support services.