August 2026 Chamber of Commerce Newsletter
Residential Activation Fund
The next round of the Residential Activation Fund will fast-track more than 18,900 homes on the Gold Coast with a $146 million investment across multiple projects, bringing the total number of homes unlocked to more than 100,000.
Spread across three projects that will service new developments in Worongary, Robina, Pimpama, Coomera, Upper Coomera and Parkwood, the funding will fast-track critical trunk infrastructure including a major upgrade of the Merrimac Sewage Treatment Plant as well as other sewage, road and electrical works.
The number of fast-tracked and unlocked places to call home under the Residential Activation Fund has now rocketed past 100,000 in less than 18 months since the initiative’s launch, with thousands more to come as further funding is rolled out soon.
The Residential Activation Fund helps ensure essential infrastructure like water, sewerage, roads and power is in place to unlock more land to support growing communities, which allows homes to be built and moved into faster.
Following the success of round one, which unlocked more than 98,000 homes across the State, and overwhelming interest by Councils and industry, the next round of the $2 billion Residential Activation Fund was fast-tracked, doubling round two to $1 billion in the Crisafulli Government’s recent budget.
Fresh Start For 4,500 New Construction Apprentices
The Crisafulli Government is building Queensland’s future by delivering a career kickstart for 4,500 construction apprentices, by launching the new TradieStart program and the next stage of the successful Small Business Apprenticeship Program.
The two initiatives will provide a substantial boost in combating Labor’s Skills Crisis, which created a predicted peak shortfall of 50,000 construction workers across Queensland. The new TradieStart program will cover 2,500 eligible construction, plumbing, engineering and electrical apprenticeships, with small businesses putting on their first apprentice receiving a base payment of $10,000 and an additional $4,000 if the apprentice is over 21.
A further $2,000 is also available if the apprentice is hired from a priority cohort including veterans, women, people with a disability and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Medium and large businesses and Group Training Organisations can receive $10,000 for putting on a priority cohort apprentice with an additional $4,000 if they’re over 21. The Crisafulli Government is also boosting the skills pipeline by extending the Small Business Apprenticeship Program to provide wage subsidies for another 2,000 construction apprenticeships.
SES Capability Strengthened
Almost $2.5 million is being invested through the 2026-27 Queensland SES Support Grant Program, to deliver new and upgraded SES facilities, backup generators, storage sheds, command buildings, and replacement operational vehicles.
The funding is alongside an additional $875,000 to accelerate the replacement of 12 ageing SES vehicles identified as high priority due to safety and age-related concerns. Every Queenslander relies on our SES volunteers when disaster strikes, and we’re making sure they have the facilities, vehicles and equipment they need to keep communities safe.
Police Equipped With Nation-Leading Glocks
The Crisafulli Government is delivering on its promise to back frontline police with more resources, with every Queensland Police officer to be equipped with a nation-leading Glock 45 Generation 6 service pistol.
The $14 million investment will deliver more than 14,000 new world-class Austrian firearms to police from the end of 2026, replacing ageing handguns from 1998 and ensuring every officer has modern, reliable equipment to help them respond to dangerous situations and continue making Queensland safer. The Crisafulli Government’s investment follows more than $147.9 million already delivered for critical frontline equipment including: 6,546 new Taser 10s, 7,826 bodyworn cameras to strengthen evidence gathering and officer accountability, 12,500 Tactical First Aid Kits to all frontline police across the State, with new kits supplied to recruits and resupply readily available for all police officers and 1,400 tyre deflation devices to help safely stop dangerous offenders.
To learn more about what this Budget delivers for you, visit https://budget.qld.gov.au
As always, if you have any State issues you would like to discuss with me, don’t hesitate to contact my office.
Address: 1/2434 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach, 4218, QLD
Phone: 07 5600 0100
Email: mermaid.beach@parliament.qld.gov.au
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Cheers Ray
