Treasurer says Queensland is a great place to do business

Queensland will be a more stable and attractive place to invest under the Newman Government, Treasurer Tim Nicholls says.

Mr Nicholls and Tourism Minister Jann Stuckey met with a select group of 50 senior executives at a business lunch in Beijing today, where they outlined the Newman Government’s plan to reduce onerous red tape by 20 per cent, deliver infrastructure quickly and cost effectively, foster more public-private partnerships and reduce recurrent costs for business.

“We will grow the four major sectors of our economy – resources, construction, agriculture and tourism – by making Queensland one of the world’s most attractive places to invest and do business,” he said.

In his first visit to China since being elected to Government, Mr Nicholls explained the role Trade and Investment Queensland offices played in China to facilitate business expansion into Queensland.

“They can provide information about Queensland’s growing coal and liquefi ed natural gas industries, collaborative agriculture projects and proposed accommodation developments.”

Ms Stuckey said the Newman Government was working to identify a diverse range of investment opportunities across the state that might interest Chinese investors.

Recent Chinese investments include the purchase of Lindeman Island on the Great Barrier Reef and the redevelopment of land at the southern end of Surfers Paradise.

“Both of these exciting ventures will breathe new life into Queensland’s tourism industry, and will attract a new generation of Chinese visitors to Queensland,” Ms Stuckey said.

“More than 225,000 Chinese people visited Queensland in the 12 months to March 2012, increasing Queensland’s share of the overseas visitor market by 16 per cent,” she said.

“Chinese visitor spending in Queensland increased by 9 per cent to $403 million.”

Ms Stuckey said direct flights from Asia would make it easier for tourist s to visit Queensland’s hot spots.

“All sectors of the Newman Government are working together to double overnight visitor expenditure to $30 billion by 2020, making Queensland an ideal place to invest.”