2025 NOVEMBER – Chamber of Commerce Newsletter
The end of last month saw the 1-year anniversary of the Crisafulli government. Delivering a fresh start for Queensland with safety where you live, health services when you need them, a better lifestyle through a stronger economy and a plan for Queensland’s future.
The Small Business Apprenticeship Pilot Program.
The Government is boosting small and family-owned construction businesses with the $19 million Small Business Apprenticeship Pilot Program. This pilot program helps businesses train and retain apprentices by providing wage subsides during off-site training.
Support will be available for the first 2,000 apprentices who work for a small business and commenced from 1 July 2025 studying eligible construction, plumbing, engineering and electrical trades and are registered for the pilot.
Small construction business owners can register now if they employ an eligible apprentice that has passed their probation and may be eligible for the subsidy once their apprentice is enrolled and attends training.
By supporting small businesses and their apprentices, we’re helping deliver more for Queensland.
For more information, visit business.qld.gov.au/apprentice-pilot
Secure Communities Partnership Program
We’re making small business precincts safer by delivering safety upgrades like CCTV and alarm systems to drive down crime.
The first round of our Secure Communities Partnership Program has rolled out 42 critical crime prevention upgrades in partnership with local Councils – including 35 in regional Queensland – to make small business precincts safer.
The program will provide critical safety upgrades including CCTV, alarm systems, security lighting and fencing to drive down crime.
This is part of the Crisafulli Government’s Small Business First approach to create safer communities and an environment where small and family businesses can thrive.
Round 2 will be launched before the end of the year and allow eligible small businesses to apply directly for funding to implement crime prevention measures.
For more information visit business.qld.gov.au
Energy Roadmap
Our Energy Roadmap is a pragmatic plan that improves the energy assets we’ve got while building what we need for the future. This transition will deliver affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy for all Queenslanders.
The Government is delivering a balanced energy plan that improves the energy assets we’ve got while we build what we need for the future.
That means preventing the average Queensland household paying $1035 a year in extra energy costs.
KEY POINTS
- $400 million Queensland Energy Investment Fund and Queensland Investment Corporation’s new Investor Gateway to drive private sector investment in new energy generation and firming projects.
- $1.6 billion Electricity Maintenance Guarantee to improve our current energy assets.
- Clear decision-making framework for the operation of state-owned coal assets, balancing system needs, asset integrity, and economic viability.
- A tender for 400MW of new gas-fired generation in Central Queensland.
- Consolidated management of future pumped hydro proposals by QIC to provide a consistent approach to assessment and investment.
- New $10 million investment into community level batteries for greater solar storage and to help manage minimum system load.
- Construction of the Eastern Link of the CopperString transmission line in North Queensland and beginning of work on the Western Link.
- Establishment of Regional Energy Hubs to put downward pressure on development costs.
- Development of a new code of conduct for renewable energy developers to guide responsible behaviour and set community expectations.
For more information visit 🔗 www.treasury.qld.gov.au/energy-roadmap
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
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Cheers Ray
