Premier’s Annual Address
Nearly a year to the day after her last address to the Property Council as Opposition Leader, Hon Annastacia Palaszczuk MP delivered her first Annual Premier’s Address on Tuesday. The occasion also saw the release of the Property Council’s updated ‘Economic Significance of the Property Industry to the Queensland Economy‘ report, which measures the economic footprint of Queensland’s property sector.
Over 3 guests were on hand at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre to hear Premier Palaszczuk’s first reaction to the appointment of the new Prime Minister and Federal Cabinet. The Premier outlined her optimism at the Prime Minister’s focus on innovation and the new economy, and drew parallels with her own Government’s initiatives in this area.
The Premier took the opportunity to articulate many of the positive measures for the property industry undertaken by her Government over their seven months in office, including the promise to not increase stamp duty or land tax, the development of a market-led proposals framework, and last week’s $59 million Catalyst Infrastructure Program.
The Premier confirmed her promise to develop a new Queensland Infrastructure Plan within a year of coming to office. Guests were also advised that terms of reference have now been completed for the Government’s ‘Advisory Taskforce on the Residential Transition for Ageing Queenslanders’ which will investigate opportunities for the Government to promote greater choice in seniors’ accommodation.
The Property Council’s new ‘Economic Significance’ data that was launched at the event, illustrates that the property industry has a larger economic footprint than any other industry, employs 240,000 Queenslanders, and contributes a whopping 49.8% of State and Local Government taxes, charges, rates and fees.
“Those are some pretty impressive numbers, and I want them to get even better,” the Premier remarked in response to the data, “for that to happen the industry needs certainty and a long term vision, this is why planning reform is so important to my government.”
The Premier rearticulated her Government’s commitment to maintain the momentum on planning reform, saying explicitly that when it came to the LNP Government’s planning bill, “We have not thrown the baby out with the bath water.”
The need to accommodate an extra 2.2 million residents in South East Queensland by 2041 is a significant challenge for the State Government. The Premier highlighted the review of the SEQ Regional Plan as a “big item on (her) agenda.” The property industry is keen to see this plan link to infrastructure delivery plans and will continue to work with the Government to achieve this synergy.
The Property Council thanks Premier Palaszczuk for her presentation to the property industry and her ongoing commitment to active industry consultation.
The Premier’s Address Downtown Lunch would not have been possible without the generous support of Major Sponsor Stockland, and Supporting Sponsor Azurium.
Photos from the event are available here.
Sponsored by:
