April 2026 Chamber of Commerce Newsletter
Queensland Submits Plan to Fix GST Distribution
The Crisafulli Government has delivered a blueprint to fix the nation’s flawed GST distribution system and ensure states that develop industries in the national interest receive their fair share. Queensland’s submission to the Federal Productivity Commission inquiry into the 2018 GST distribution reforms demonstrates how the existing system is unfairly punishing the Sunshine State for contributing to the national economy and fuel security while rewarding states which restrict or block development.
Despite having the nation’s highest net interstate migration and increasing demands for essential services, Queensland was short-changed again in Canberra’s GST carve-up after being allocated less GST in 2026–27 than 2023-24, compounding the significant challenges left by the former Labor Government after a decade of fiscal vandalism.
In contrast, the national GST pool has grown by nearly 20 per cent, Victoria’s GST is up 47 per cent, Western Australia is up 43 per cent.
Independent advice by the Queensland Productivity Commission found Australia’s GST system creates poor incentives for growth-enhancing policy and allocates less GST to each Queenslander today than 2002–03, in real terms.
Queensland State Redistribution
A report on the proposed redistribution, which includes maps showing the boundaries of the 93 proposed electoral districts, the names and boundary descriptions of all proposed electoral districts, and the Commission’s reasons for redistributing the State in the way proposed, is available on the QRC’s website at redistribution.ecq.qld.gov.au. Final boundaries will be published in June 2026
Exploration Opportunities – Oil, Gas, Coal And Vanadium Projects
At the beginning of March 2026 tenders opened for 18 new areas to explore for petroleum, gas, coal and vanadium. Included was further petroleum and gas exploration across the Cooper/Eromanga and Bowen/Surat Basins to help secure future domestic supply.
Four of the petroleum and gas areas will be released subject to an Australian Market Supply Condition, ensuring any gas produced from those tenures is supplied to the domestic market to put downward pressure on energy prices.
The release followed the appointment of preferred tenderers to explore for petroleum and gas in the Cooper/Eromanga basins and the Taroom Trough, bringing more than $100 million of new exploration activity into the State and importantly, into regional Queensland.
It is the second time the Crisafulli Government has released land in the Cooper Basin since taking office, after Labor effectively locked up the gas-rich area.
We’re sending a clear message that Queensland is open for business, and we are serious about securing long-term energy supply for Australian households and businesses.
Making Queensland Safer
The QGSO Crime Report, Queensland, 2024-25, released today, provides a snapshot of the first six months of the Crisafulli Government’s landmark Adult Crime, Adult Time laws, showing overall crime fell by 1.2 per cent in 2024-25, compared to the previous year under Labor.
The report reveals the immediate and significant impact of Adult Crime, Adult Time, including:
- A 9.9 per cent reduction in the rate of break-ins, compared to 2023-24;
- A 10.6 per cent reduction in the rate of robbery, compared to 2023-24;
- A 5.6 per cent reduction in the rate of stolen cars, compared to 2023-24.
- The majority of robberies, break-ins and stolen cars are no longer being committed primarily by youth, for the first time in half a decade;
- A 16.7 per cent drop in the number of youth offenders compared to 2023-24;
The Crisafulli Government’s plan to make Queensland safer with more police, stronger laws, early intervention and rehabilitation has already delivered a 7.2 per cent reduction in victims of crime in Queensland in 2025, compared to the previous year.
As always, if you have any State issues you would like to discuss with me, don’t hesitate to contact my office.
Phone: 07 5600 0100
Email: mermaid.beach@parliament.qld.gov.au
Address: 1/2434 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach, 4218, QLD
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/raystevens.mp
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raystevens.mp
Cheers Ray
