Employment opportunities booming on the Sunshine Coast

The Sunshine Coast has become Queensland’s employment powerhouse, with the latest ABS data showing more jobs were created on the Sunshine Coast in the last year than any other region. Treasurer Tim Nicholls said this was a sign of confidence in the local economy. “The employment growth experienced on the Sunshine Coast in the year…

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ResourcesQ Partnership Group announced

Six resource industry experts have been selected to work with the Queensland Government to help drive growth and jobs in the sector over the next 30 years. Minister for Natural Resources and Mines Andrew Cripps announced the members of the ResourcesQ Partnership Group, to provide strategic advice and recommendations on the ResourcesQ initiative. “This project…

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Landmark laws deliver revolution in regional planning

The State Government will deliver the clearest regional planning laws in Queensland’s history with Parliament today passing the Regional Planning Interests Act 2014. Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Planning and Infrastructure Jeff Seeney said the Act will provide investment certainty for the agriculture and resource sectors by introducing a clear and equitable process…

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New technology gives emergency vehicles the green light

Emergency services vehicles are getting a clearer run to urgent jobs thanks to new traffic light technology being trialled on the Gold Coast. Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services Jack Dempsey said the Emergency Vehicle Priority (EVP) project allows crews to reach house fires, car crashes and other emergencies more quickly and safely –…

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New drought support expected soon

Queensland has been assured by the Federal Government that farmers would soon be able to access new financing arrangements under the Federal Government’s $320 million drought assistance package. Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Minister John McVeigh said officers from his department and the Queensland Rural Adjustment Authority (QRAA) had been working closely with their federal counterparts…

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More passengers get on board new timetable

Two months on and passengers have embraced the Newman Government’s overhaul of the rail timetable with more people choosing to catch public transport. Transport and Main Roads Minister Scott Emerson said the new timetable included an additional 1000 rail services a week. “Since the new timetable was implemented more than 27,000 extra trips have been…

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Land tenure reforms boost agriculture and tourism

Major reforms to Queensland’s leasehold land system will provide greater security of tenure for leaseholders and help drive growth in the key agriculture and tourism sectors.   Natural Resources and Mines Minister, Andrew Cripps, said the Land and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2014 introduced into the Queensland Parliament today, would slash red tape, reduce costs…

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Labor out of line on independent officials

Treasurer Tim Nicholls has called on Queensland Labor to publicly apologise for accusing independent officers of Queensland Treasury of lying. Mr Nicholls said comments from the Member for Mulgrave Curtis Pitt yesterday, where he called Treasury officials “irresponsible” and claimed they had “concocted” economic modelling, were shameful. “This is a new low for Labor,” Mr…

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Queensland leads on cycle safety

Queensland will provide the safest environment for road cyclists becoming the first state to introduce a minimum distance for passing cyclists from next month. Transport and Main Roads Minister Scott Emerson said the two-year trial of the new laws would encourage better sharing of the road between motorists and cyclists. “Tragically 13 cyclists were killed…

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