We have right plan for the future
THIS is a time of great consequence.
It is also a time when we stand on the edge of a new era of opportunity. I am genuinely excited about the future.
I know it has been a tough few years in Cairns. The economic consequences of the pandemic hit FNQ hard. For 7000 local businesses and 24,400 locals, JobKeeper was a vital support during the depths of the pandemic.
So our plan is for a stronger economy. Our plan is both national and local.
Nationally, we have set ourselves a goal of creating 1.3 million new jobs over the next five years including 450,000 new jobs in regional Australia.
Already 1.9m new jobs have been created under this government, and the Reserve Bank says we can get unemployment to 3.5 per cent.
Our plan lowers tax for Australians and small businesses, builds productivity-enhancing infrastructure, invests in the skills of Australians with record funding
for apprenticeships and trainees, and expands export opportunities for Australian businesses.
An integral part of our plan for a strong economy is affordable, reliable and clean energy. Energy that is affordable and reliable and that will power Australian businesses in the years ahead, while reducing emissions to achieve net zero by 2050, and reducing household electricity bills.
Locally, I want FNQ to again showcase Australia to the world. That means continuing to welcome
visitors back. We have in place a $146m tourism recovery plan that includes $15m for Tourism Tropical North Queensland to promote the region. We have also extended the waiver of Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority management fees and charges for reef operators for a further 12 months.
As well, we are committing $1bn in new funding to protect the Great Barrier Reef, taking our investment to $3bn.
And we are continuing to invest