Ex-Premier outlines way out of downturn

CUTTING land tax and payroll tax and tapping the superannuation sector for the cash to retool Queensland should be on the agenda of an urgent crisis summit the state needs to fight its way out of the COVID-19 downturn, former Premier Peter Beattie says.

In a 10-point plan to steer Queensland out of the economic COVID-19 cloud as part of The Bulletin’s Kickstart Queensland series, the architect of the Smart State strategy said it was essential to get industry and the economy going now but also use the crisis to build a long-term strategy “underpinned by innovation and brain power”.

“The strategy needs to be aggressive and collaborative with universities, industry, business and unions using business and university brains, experience and know-how to forge the way forward post the coronavirus pandemic,” the former Premier said.

“The State Government should immediately call a crisis summit of all key economic players in Queensland to agree on a six- month recovery plan for the state.

He said smart companies should be lured to Queensland using incentives like reduced land and payroll taxes and stamp duty cuts.

“Because of the state debt, fast track government projects with money from public-private-partnerships (PPPs) particularly in partnership with Australian superannuation funds,” Mr Beattie said.

And Queensland should blitz the nation with a “Holiday at Home” push, he said.