Jackie Trad.
Interstate migrants and tourists are flocking to Queensland off the back of the Palaszczuk Government’s investment in new infrastructure and industries, newly released economic reports say.
Major transport projects make up “a fair chunk of the spend” in $46 billion on infrastructure over the next four years, with Brisbane’s $5 billion Cross River Rail and upgrades to the Bruce Highway among them, the Deloitte Access Economics Business Outlook for December 2018 says.
The Sunshine State has a heavy investment in renewables such as solar energy along with electric vehicle (EV) promotion through the Queensland Electric Super Highway and other associated tech including hydrogen development.
The reports also highlight the wave of interstate migration, primarily from New South Wales, deputy premier and treasurer Jackie Trad says.
“Queensland offers a more affordable and liveable lifestyle, incredible weather and booming new industries in research, LNG exports and renewables,” she says.
“Tourists are also flocking to our beaches, cities and regions, with the longest period of sustained tourism growth since the 1990s delivering a welcome boost to the retail and hospitality sectors.
“Deloitte’s report also highlights the significant investment in new infrastructure being delivered across Queensland, both by the public and private sectors.
“With the ramping up of LNG exports, considerable private investment in tourism infrastructure on the horizon and engineering construction steadily lifting we are successfully and sustainably transitioning our economy following the mining and LNG investment boom.”
The impact of these once-in-a-generation booms underpins Queensland’s performance in the newly released CommSec State of the State Report.
“CommSec’s report looks backwards, comparing Queensland now to Queensland at the height of unprecedented mining and investment booms,” Trad says.
“But while CommSec looks backwards, we are unashamedly looking to the future, investing in the right projects to grow Queensland’s economy and supporting the private sector to do the same.
“With 186,400 new jobs created since 2015 and most major forecasters predicting strong economic growth in the coming years we are building an economy that works for everyone.
“A state with an inclusive, growing economy is the kind of state that people want to visit, live, work and raise their families.”
