Escape to Southern Queensland Country this winter

A new tourism marketing campaign is encouraging travellers to take a break from the city and head to Southern Queensland where ‘somewhere in the country … it’s snuggling season’.  Tourism Minister Jann Stuckey said the campaign was designed to lure visitors to a destination renowned for its four distinct seasons, delivering on the Government’s election…

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World-first laser boosts skin cancer detection

World-first, cutting-edge laser technology being used by Queensland researchers will revolutionise the detection and treatment of skin cancer, saving lives and cutting treatment costs. Science Minister Ian Walker said the laser imaging system, developed by researchers at the University of Queensland’s School of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering and the University of Leeds, would help…

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New approach takes Queensland ICT to the cloud

Significant savings, better frontline services and more opportunities for small business will flow from the release of the State Government Cloud Computing Strategy. IT and Innovation Minister Ian Walker said the strategy gave the Queensland public service the tools to transition to a cloud-based environment, which would reduce costs by government moving away from owning…

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Aquis and ASF short-listed to develop integrated resorts

Queenslanders are a step closer to enjoying new six star regional integrated resorts, with the proposed $8.15 billion Aquis project in Cairns and the proposed $7.5 billion Broadwater Marine Project on the Gold Coast selected as the two projects able to proceed to the next stage of development. Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development,…

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Queensland’s heritage protected with review

The future of the State’s heritage places will be canvassed in a discussion paper that Queenslanders are invited to have their say on.  Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection Andrew Powell said the Queensland Heritage Act 1992 (Heritage Act) was being reviewed to ensure the locations and buildings were managed in a responsive and innovative…

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Is your gambling risky or responsible?

‘Is your gambling risky or responsible?’ is the central theme of this year’s Responsible Gambling Awareness Week (26 May- 1 June), launched at the Hamilton Hotel. Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Jarrod Bleijie said the annual event was a valuable opportunity for industry and community groups to work together to help reduce problem gambling through…

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New era in plumbing begins

The building and construction industry will receive another boost with legislation that brings down costs by reducing red tape. Minister for Housing and Public Works Tim Mander said moving the licensing and compliance function to the Queensland Building and Construction Commission would result in cost and efficiency savings for the industry. “There are currently two…

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New free independent building industry review process

A free, independent system to review decisions made by the Queensland Building and Construction Commission has been established, in a significant reform to the building industry. Minister for Housing and Public Works Tim Mander said that previously, home owners, builders, contractors and certifiers could only appeal the building industry regulator’s decisions in the Queensland Civil…

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Plan to print 3D kidney tissue using Qld expertise

It sounds like something out of science fiction but a US company is planning to produce kidney tissues using a 3D printer. And there’s a Queensland connection. Minister for Science and Innovation Ian Walker said mini-kidney tissue would be printed by America’s 3D bio-printing company Organovo following an agreement signed with the University of Queensland’s…

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New offset legislation delivers for Queensland’s environment

Queensland’s environment will be the big winner after the new Environmental Offsets Bill was passed in parliament fulfilling another election commitment by the Newman Government. Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection, Andrew Powell, said the new legislation gives the government the opportunity to focus investment on frontline corridors with high environmental value. “This means for…

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