Border crossing business mission

QUEENSLAND will attempt to poach major businesses from the COVID-infected southern states in a bold push to become Australia’s new economic powerhouse.

Skyrocketing COVID-19 cases in Victoria and growing clusters in New South Wales are putting at risk the economic revival of Australia’s two largest economies.

Their fight to manage the health crisis has opened the door for COVID-free Queensland to capitalise and so benefit with its own economic windfall.

The southeast of the state is already temporarily hosting major sporting codes such as the AFL, NRL, Supercars and Super Netball and so the focus has now shifted to luring shuttered businesses from Victoria and NSW to the Sunshine State.

Queensland State Development Minister Kate Jones said her department was in overdrive, working to bring businesses north.

“We’re on a mission to poach big companies that we can ensure will create jobs for Queenslanders,” Ms Jones said.

“Right now we are the home of Australian sport — this is a great boon for our tourism and major events industries.

“And thanks to the way we’ve managed this health crisis, we’re seeing more interest from companies keen to come to Queensland.”

The work is being done through the state’s Advance Queensland Industry Attraction Fund, which has already attracted 19 major companies and created 1000 jobs in the past few years.

“We’re actively in the marketplace looking for firms that can help us further Queensland’s economic recovery,” Ms Jones said.