2017 POLICY DOCUMENT. Extending Works for Queensland. Putting Queenslanders First

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1 2017 POLICY DOCUMENT Extending Works for Queensland Putting

2 2 Extending Works for Queensland Contents Message from the Premier 3 Our Commitment 4 The Newman-Nicholls Legacy 5 The Palaszczuk 6 Government s Record Our Plans: Putting 7 Call: Mail: PO Box 5032, West End QLD

3 Extending Works for Queensland 3 Message from the Premier My government is focused on delivering jobs and infrastructure for all Queenslanders. Works for Queensland is an integral part of the Palaszczuk Government s plan with its first two stages delivering 1,300 much needed infrastrcture projects across regional Queensland in partnership with local councils. My government will add a further $200 million to the $400 million already invested. This will see council-identified infrastructure delivered, as well as infrastructure resilience increased. Crucially, this will also see jobs created and supported in the regions that need it most. My government s focus on jobs has seen 122,500 jobs created in our first term. A re-elected Palaszczuk Government will continue our focus on jobs in the second term and Works for Queensland along with other job-creating programs, are a key part of our jobs plan. $600m JOBS & INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING 122,500 J O B S C R E AT E D SINCE 2015 Annastacia Palaszczuk PREMIER OF QUEENSLAND Putting

4 4 Extending Works for Queensland UP TO $200m NEW JOB & INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING 1300 PROJECTS STATEWIDE $600m TOTAL FUNDING Our Commitment The Palaszczuk Government is committed to creating jobs, building infrastructure and improving disaster resilience for regional Queensland. The Works for Queensland initiative targets areas with high unemployment and helps local councils to support job-creating maintenance and infrastructure projects across the regions. Works for Queensland is already delivering more than 1,300 projects in 65 local government areas across Queensland. A re-elected Palaszczuk Government will provide up to $200 million of additional funding to extend the Works for Queensland program until The $200 million will support job-creating infrastructure works across regional Queensland, bringing the total commitment to $600 million. Works for Queensland empowered local governments to identify the infrastructure needs of regional Queensland. By working with local government to deliver these projects, we get boots on the ground immediately creating jobs and fast-tracking infrastructure. This program has already been wholeheartedly embraced by councils across Queensland because they know it delivers jobs and infrastructure for their communities. The program is delivering jobs and projects that will make our great regional communities even better places for people to live, work and raise their families.

5 Extending Works for Queensland 5 The Newman- Nicholls Legacy The Newman-Nicholls Government cut infrastructure spending in every budget with the deepest cuts reserved for the regions 1. The Newman-Nicholls Government failed to support local governments with only $104 million in local government grants in Tim Nicholls last budget. This is just over a third of the Palaszczuk Government s investment in local government infrastructure of $297 million in The Palaszczuk Government is focused on jobs and growth and programs like Works for Queensland have yielded results. 122,500 new jobs have been created in Queensland under the Palaszczuk Government with the trend unemployment rate down to 5.9 per cent. 3 The Palaszczuk Government inherited a 6.6 per cent unemployment rate from failed Treasurer Tim Nicholls. More than four times as many jobs have been created during the first term of the Palaszczuk Government than during the entire Newman-Nicholls Government. Under the Palaszczuk Government s positive economic plan, we have driven growth, boosted confidence, attracted investment, increased exports and generated jobs. In contrast Tim Nicholls and the LNP have committed to axing the successful Works for Queensland program. They have not learnt their lesson. We know they will cut, sack and sell.... job losses were part and parcel of the former LNP government s attitude towards the public service, which saw more than 14,000 Queenslanders lose their jobs. 1 BP3s , , Table 1.3 BP3 budget $104m grants in Local Government, Community Recovery and Resilience; Table 4. BP budget Capital grants. $297m grants in Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning (excluding QRA) 3 ABS data August 2017 Putting

6 6 Extending Works for Queensland The Palaszczuk Government s Record The Palaszczuk Government recognises that infrastructure investment in Queensland drives both short and long-term employment and economic growth. The Palaszczuk Government is committed to creating job opportunities for Queenslanders, especially in regional communities facing high levels of unemployment. Works for Queensland is part of a suite of programs initiated by the Palaszczuk Government to boost regional economies and jobs, such as: $375 million Building our Regions initiative targeted regional infrastructure program for local government projects We promised a better way when elected in We immediately began getting Queenslanders back to work. The first round of Works for Queensland is already delivering for Queensland with: $200 million supporting 65 regional councils 190 projects completed 734 either completed or nearing completion projects in progress Over 5,700 jobs supported to date The second round of Works for Queensland was announced in August 2017 with over 600 successful projects (including disaster resilience projects) in the 65 regional council areas with over 5,700 jobs to date. $180 million Significant Regional Infrastructure Projects Program, fasttracking key economic/social infrastructure projects in regional centres including health, transport and education infrastructure $130 million Jobs and Regional Growth Fund for projects that require direct and immediate assistance to help early-stage development and to expedite project implementation $177.5 million Back to Work Program, which includes payments of up to $20,000 for employers taking on young jobseekers $40 million Advance Queensland Industry Attraction Program to encourage businesses to the state, either to relocate or establish new projects $20 million Made in Queensland initiative to support the manufacturing sector with grants supplementing industry contributions Buy Queensland a strategy to direct the Government s $18b procurement budget to put Queensland workers and businesses first

7 Extending Works for Queensland 7 Our Plans: Putting A re-elected Palaszczuk Government will build on the achievements of our first term to deliver jobs and infrastructure to regional Queensland. We will invest a further $200 million in Works for Queensland program bringing the total investment to $600 million. This will enable the program to operate until providing certainty for council planning and investment in infrastructure. The additional funding commitment means councils will be able to build on the great work already achieved through Works for Queensland. The program is making a real difference to the lives of Queenslanders and their communities right across the state and the Palaszczuk Government will continue to deliver on this job and infrastructure generating program. Works for Queensland under a Palaszczuk Government will: Generate local jobs outside south east Queensland meaning up to 6,000 extra jobs will be supported by the program extension 4 Build much needed infrastructure in regional areas in partnership with councils Improve the disaster resilience of regional communities. UP TO 6,000 EXTRA JOBS S U P P O R TE D 4 Based on Council estimates. statements.qld.gov.au/statement/2017/6/13/works-for-queensland-receives-200m-budget-boost Putting

8 Call: Mail: PO Box 5032, West End QLD twitter.com/annastaciamp