The third Western Queensland Regional Community Forum of 2023
Q2032 Procurement Strategy supporting regional Queensland
Businesses across Western Queensland could benefit
Housing accessibility and affordability, education, training and employment pathways, infrastructure, workforce attraction, and the Q2032 Procurement Strategy will be part of the conversation at the Western Queensland Regional Community Forum meeting at Boulia on Monday.
The forum includes a site visit to the Min Min Encounter Visitor Centre which supports tourism and economic development in outback Queensland.
Presentations to forum members include an overview on the Central and Western Queensland Infrastructure Plan, housing infrastructure, and updates from the Queensland Multicultural Advisory Council.
There will also be a presentation about the Q2032 Procurement Strategy whereby Queensland-based businesses will be prioritised to share in an anticipated $180 billion of government procurement from now until the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
And it's expected that around 50 per cent of international travellers visiting as a result of Brisbane 2032 will disperse to Queensland's regions, stimulating a significant increase in overnight visitor expenditure.
Quote attributable to the Minister for Transport and Main Roads and Minister for Digital Services Mark Bailey:
"The conversation between the Palaszczuk government and the forum members is making change happen across Western Queensland, and I thank everyone for their valuable advice."
Quotes attributable to the Western Queensland Regional Community Forum Chair, Assistant Minister for Local Government Nikki Boyd:
"I am proud to chair a forum that is developing positive outcomes for Western Queenslanders thanks to the great work of the members, and I would like to thank them for their ongoing participation and advice."
Quote attributable to Western Queensland Forum member Lyn Pearson:
"For forum members to have direct communication with the Ministers is fantastic. It makes us realise we are in good hands, and that there is genuine interest in creating policy and protocol that is driving us toward a healthy future. Building the forum members' experience of this then permeates our communities."
Successful outcomes:
Outcomes delivered by the forum members include:
acquiring a funding boost to the Remote Area Tuition Allowance helping to ease the cost-of-living pressures faced by isolated Queensland families
working with the Western Queensland Primary Health Network to support Healthy Outback Communities research, and
working with agencies to expand the Western Queensland LEAD Agriculture program in 2023.
Further Background:
The forum is chaired by the Assistant Minister for Local Government Nikki Boyd.
The Minister for Transport and Main Roads and Minister for Digital Services Mark Bailey is also attending.
The Western Queensland Regional Community Forum is one of seven to be held in regional centres across the state, with similar forums for Central Queensland, Darling Downs South West Queensland, Far North Queensland, Mackay Isaac Whitsunday, North and North West Queensland, and Wide Bay Burnett Fraser Coast.
One more round of Regional Community Forums is scheduled for 2023.
Regional Community Forums are supported by the Office for Rural and Regional Queensland.
