Hundreds of small and family businesses are being called upon to provide practical solutions to reduce red tape as part of the Crisafulli Government’s focus on removing unnecessary government regulations.
Small and Family Business Minister Steve Minnikin will write to more than 120 Chambers of Commerce across Queensland asking for feedback to rip up the red tape that is strangling businesses.
As part of delivering a fresh start for Queensland, earlier this month the Crisafulli Government fulfilled a key commitment in its 100 Day Plan to refocus the Queensland Small Business Commissioner on red tape reduction and dispute resolution.
New figures show that there are now more than 495,000 Queensland small and family businesses who employ more than one million Queenslanders.
Under Labor's red tape burden Queensland experienced the highest failure rate of businesses of anywhere in Australia, with more than 30% of new small businesses failing within the first five years.
According to Business Chamber Queensland the cost of regulation has doubled in two years to $50,000.
Small and Family Business Minister Steve Minnikin met with Caloundra Chamber of Commerce at Caloundra-based OceanView Helicopters to listen to their feedback on removing government regulations suffocating businesses.
“We are getting on with the job of collecting red tape reduction examples starting with Chambers of Commerce,” Mr Minnikin said.
“Chambers of Commerce across Queensland understand the red tape challenges faced by many small and family businesses and I want their support in gathering examples.
“Some of the feedback includes language being too complicated, different information from different areas of government or duplication in auditing and monitoring requirements.
“Queensland has one of the highest rates of entry into small business. However small and family businesses are telling us that growing red tape and inefficient regulation is stifling their business growth and competitiveness.
“Unlike the former Labor Government, we want to see small businesses not only survive, but thrive.”
Member for Caloundra Kendall Morton was a business owner and understands the impact red tape can have on stifling innovation and creativity.
“As a business owner I would often experience the time-consuming process of dealing with all levels of government and the flow-on effect it had on staff, productivity and ultimately the consumer loses out,” Ms Morton said.
“I know from personal experience that red tape can cripple a business and take away from valuable time with customers.
“I welcome the Crisafulli Government’s focus on red tape reduction and making it easier for small and family-owned businesses to get on with providing essential goods and services that enhance all Queensland communities.”
Caloundra Chamber of Commerce CEO Lisa Bolton also welcomed the focus on streamlining red tape faced by Queensland businesses.
“Small and family businesses like OceanView Helicopters are at the heart of our tourism communities, providing services, training and products and it is imperative we reduce the hurdles they face,” Ms Bolton said.
“We want to ensure people from all backgrounds, with all experiences, are well-supported to start and operate small and family businesses.”
The Crisafulli Government has launched a major inquiry into the failures of the Blue Card Child Protection system under Labor, delivering on a key election commitment within its first 100 days in office.
The inquiry will be undertaken by the Queensland Family and Child Commission (QFCC) Child Death Review Board, with the Terms of Reference focused on system responses to child sexual abuse, including those that failed to protect children from convicted paedophile Ashley Paul Griffith.
Under the leadership of Child Death Review Board Chairperson Luke Twyford, the inquiry will identify weaknesses in laws, policies, procedures and practices, across early childhood education and care, police, and blue card systems.
Premier David Crisafulli said the Inquiry would uncover system failings and deliver recommendations needed to improve Queensland’s child protection system framework.
“This Inquiry is what is needed to bring child protection weaknesses into the light and protect children from the danger lurking in the shadows,” Premier Crisafulli said.
“When parents drop their children off at childcare or school, they want to know that everything is being done to protect their kids.
“We must leave no stone unturned in identifying weaknesses across government that are failing keeping children safe and implement the reform that’s urgently needed.”
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Deb Frecklington said she was committed to improving the system, to ensure perpetrators were identified and children at risk were protected.
“We promised in opposition to launch this critical review within 100 days if elected – Queenslanders deserve answers they never received under the former Labor government,” Ms Frecklington said.
“I want to thank the Board for undertaking this work, and I look forward to receiving their final report later this year.”
Child Death Review Board Chairperson Luke Twyford said he welcomed the opportunity to lead the review, examining one of the most horrific cases of child sexual exploitation reported in Australia.
“I am committed to working closely with government agencies and community organisations to identify the gaps in the system that enabled this opportunity for harm, analyse the system response, and identify the improvements needed,” Mr Twyford said.
“The review will include input from experts and victims of child sexual exploitation to ensure our review is carried out to the highest standards and considers contemporary child safeguarding practices.
“Our findings will be released publicly, and we will release public progress reports throughout the review period to ensure transparency and to provide the public with confidence in the process,” he said.
The Terms of Reference for the System Response to Child Sexual Abuse have been endorsed by the Child Death Review Board and work will start immediately.
The Terms of Reference are available at www.qfcc.qld.gov.au
Queensland Health has welcomed 887 new junior doctors to the frontline, helping provide critical healthcare across the State.
This year’s intake is one of the largest in Queensland’s history, and an increase from 838 in 2024.
The junior doctors will undertake a one-year internship across 12 hospital and health services.
The interns will gain clinical experience in areas such as emergency, cardiology, orthopaedics, anaesthetics, obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics, intensive care, mental health, general medical and general surgical.
They’ll all receive expert guidance and training from Queensland Health clinicians to help them choose an area of speciality to pursue once their internship is complete.
The Crisafulli Government has already announced plans to introduce a new Queensland Academy for Health Sciences in Rockhampton to secure a future pipeline of health workers, with a regional Queensland focus.
The Crisafulli Government’s Easier Access to Health Services Plan will deliver more doctors, nurses and paramedics to the frontline.
Frontline health worker attrition rates reached decade-highs under the former government, with the rate of nurses leaving nearly doubling under the former government to 6 per cent while 4 per cent of doctors left last financial year.
Minister for Health and Ambulance Services, Tim Nicholls, said Queensland Health’s future looked bright with the number of promising junior staff coming through the ranks.
“This week in Townsville and Cairns I’ve met with more than 100 interns who are at the forefront of our health system,” Mr Nicholls said.
“They’ll ensure Queensland Health remains in safe hands for decades to come.
“During their 10-week rotations, the junior doctors joining Queensland Health will receive worldclass training and have the opportunity to explore every aspect of health service delivery before embarking on fulfilling careers and making a lasting contribution to the health and wellbeing of Queenslanders.
“The record intake shows the high regard in which Queensland Health is held by those pursuing a career in healthcare.
“Frontline clinicians are the backbone of the state’s health system, which is why the Crisafulli Government is committed to growing the workforce as part of our Easier Access to Health Services Plan.
“As Minister for Health and Ambulance Services, I’m committed to talking with clinicians at every stage of their career, to find out how the Crisafulli Government can support them in the delivery of excellence in health services.”
The independent Queensland Audit Office (QAO) has released a report - Health 2024 - on Queensland Health's performance in 2023-24 which has laid bare Labor's record of failures in financial performance and sustainability, asset management, and managing the demand for health services.
It confirmed what the Crisafulli Government has revealed to Queenslanders since taking office, that Labor had a history of hiding budget blowouts, and was downplaying the immense pressure the health system is operating under.
Some of the damning discoveries from 2023-24 include:
The report confirms lives were increasingly being put at risk with Queensland Health failing to meet its statewide ramping targets for the last nine years.
Last year, ambulances spent 157,602 hours ramped outside emergency departments.
Outpatient appointments also soared, with the report uncovering the number of long-waits last year was 29 per cent higher than the same time in 2015.
Meaning more than 100,000 Queenslanders were left waiting longer than clinically recommended for critical services like cardiology, ophthalmology, paediatric medicine, and general surgery.
The Minister for Health and Ambulance Services, Tim Nicholls, said the Auditor-General’s report was a startling insight into Labor’s inability to manage health services.
“Queenslanders can now read for themselves just how badly Labor handled our health system. It’s diabolical that ramping has gone up every year since 2016,” Mr Nicholls said.
“Through 39 state-wide Crisis Town Halls, we listened while Queenslanders told stories about losing loved ones because ambulances didn’t arrive in time or were ramped outside the hospital metres from help.”
“This shows in black and white the impact on the lives of Queenslanders every day, from the top to the bottom of the state.”
Confusion continues to reign when it comes to satellite hospitals, with more than 3,500 patients with immediately or imminently life-threatening conditions presenting at satellite hospitals last year.
This includes patients in need of emergency care for major heart attacks, anaphylaxis, massive trauma injuries, seizures, and strokes.
“More than 3,000 lives were put at risk because Labor refused to call these facilities what they are. The Crisafulli Government committed to rename satellite hospitals and end patient confusion. We have been consulting with clinicians on the right name for these facilities and will have more to say on this in the coming weeks.”
The Auditor General’s report also starkly highlights that there is a massive cliff approaching when it comes to health facilities, with more than one third of buildings needing to be replaced within the next 10 years.
“Not only did the former Labor Government under-fund new hospitals, they also failed to maintain existing ones. Labor left health facilities across the state in need of $2 billion of maintenance and repair.”
“Four years ago, the Queensland Audit Office called out the backlog of high-risk asset maintenance. But instead, Labor cannibalised the critically needed budget for hospital repair and maintenance to deal with their cost escalations and politicised announcements, it was a classic case of robbing Peter to pay Paul.”
“Queenslanders deserve a world class health system, and that’s what the LNP’s Easier Access to Health Services Plan will deliver. We campaigned on healing the health crisis, we are going to diagnose, we are going to treat, and we are going to cure the health crisis.”
“We have already abolished Labor’s patient tax, and we will continue to free up hospital beds, clear waiting lists, and put more doctors, nurses and paramedics on the front line.”
“We will publish real time hospital data, so Queenslanders know the truth about what’s happening in their hospitals, not finding out when it’s politically convenient.”
“Despite the tireless work of Queensland’s clinical staff, a decade of Labor government management has put our health system on life support, but the LNP has the right plan to restore our health services to where you need them.”
The Crisafulli Government has today launched the largest rapid response unit in Queensland Police history – an integrated ‘State Flying Squad’ to swoop on crime hotspots across the state.
The squad of 58 specialist officers will be deployed to high-risk areas to strategically target Queensland’s worst juvenile and adult offenders.
The Crisafulli Government has committed $32.4 million in funding over five years to the squad, which will absorb officers who are currently attached to operations including Taskforce Guardian and Operation Whiskey Legion.
The State Flying Squad will bolster the police frontline across Queensland and have the firepower to ensure teenage criminals are held to account through the Making Queensland Safer Laws.
Premier David Crisafulli said bolstering Queensland’s crime offensive with the largest ever police flying squad was just one of the ways the Government was delivering on its commitment to restore safety where you live.
“This squad will strike at the heart of crime and help restore community safety across the state,” Premier Crisafulli said.
“Backed by our tough Making Queensland Safer Laws, the State Flying Squad represents a new era of policing and will give communities the backup needed, when they need it.
“We are throwing the kitchen sink at turning the tide on a decade of runaway crime under Labor.
“Queenslanders deserve safety and police deserve support; we are delivering on both to wrestle back control and end the Youth Crime Crisis.”
Minister for Police and Emergency Services Dan Purdie said it was an important step towards solving Labor’s crime crisis and supporting police.
“For ten years, the previous Labor Government clipped the wings of our frontline officers by not giving them the resources they needed to do their jobs,” Minister Purdie said.
“Our new State Flying Squad will be able to deploy at a moment’s notice into any corner of Queensland, providing on-the-ground support to police on the frontline who need it most.
“Youth offenders and high-risk criminals will be a major focus for the new Squad, which will be able to utilise the Making Queensland Safer Laws and restore safety where you live.”
Deputy Commissioner Cheryl Scanlon said the Police Service welcomed the allocation of funding which would increase State Flying Squad by 41 full time staff.
“In doing so, it will reaffirm our commitment to community safety and addressing youth crime by allowing the State Flying Squad to continue the highly successful work performed by Taskforce Guardian and Operation Whiskey Legion,” Deputy Commissioner Cheryl Scanlon said.
“The investment strengthens our targeted operations capability, ensuring we have resources needed to respond quickly and effectively to crime hotspots across Queensland.”
The Crisafulli Government has announced it has locked-in four years of funding for the Queensland Police Youth Crime Taskforce, after the former Government failed to fund it beyond this financial year.
A $15.452 million commitment delivers certainty for the Taskforce to continue its operations and with the Making Queensland Safer Laws in effect, gives police the strong laws needed to be effective in tackling youth crime.
The announcement follows revelations the previous Government failed to fund the Taskforce.
This ongoing funding will support 16 full-time staff in targeting high harm offending through targeted operations including Taskforce Guardian and Operation Whiskey Legion.
Youth Crime Co-Responder teams will also become a permanent fixture, empowering young people to make positive choices and aiming to reduce the number of young people committing offences.
Premier David Crisafulli said setting the Taskforce in stone was another step towards unlocking the grip of Labor’s youth crime crisis on Queensland.
“For Queensland to successfully unravel a generation of youth crime we need permanent laws and a permanent policing presence,” Premier Crisafulli said.
"Today’s announcement means the Youth Crime Taskforce can focus on the survival of Queenslanders, not looking over its own should for its own ongoing survival,
“Adult Crime, Adult Time gives the Taskforce the tools it needs to make our community safer and this decision locks in the resources to focus on closing the revolving door on youth criminals.”
Minister for Police Dan Purdie said the funding worked hand-in-glove with stronger laws to empower police to do their jobs effectively.
“The Crisafulli Government has secured $15m in funding to support the front-line and enforce the toughest youth crime laws Queensland has ever seen,” Minister Purdie said.
“The fact Labor failed to fund the Taskforce into the future is more evidence they didn’t take youth crime seriously.
“Labor’s weak laws were a handbrake, now the Taskforce can accelerate the fight against youth crime.
“Our message to police is clear: we’ve got your back, and will give you the certainty, resources and powers you need to do your job properly.”
Queensland Police Service Commissioner Steve Gollschewski assured Queenslanders the service was committing to addressing youth crime from every angle.
“My priority is ensuring the community is, and feels safe, by targeting offenders causing harm to our community,” Commissioner Gollschewski said.
“We continue to see positive results through Taskforce Guardian, Operation Whiskey Legion, and proactive activities including high visibility patrols and engagements with young people.”
