CHRONICLE COLUMN | 2024 STATE ELECTION PRIORITIES
We deserve better. Help us call for action to boost local business.
We know, Queenslanders depend heavily on small businesses to meet their personal and their family’s day to day needs. Queensland has over 420,000 small businesses which contribute in the order of 116 billion to the state economy each year, employing more than 40% of Queensland’s workforce.
Over the past few months, thanks to the feedback of our members and general community, the Toowoomba Chamber created the Toowoomba Region Business Priorities to advocate for small business on matters at the upcoming state government election and beyond.
The work specifically draws our research such as Toowoomba Business Sentiment Index, Tax Advocacy Advice, Annual Surveys, CBD Economic Profile, and the like and our engagement with our members and interest groups.
In summary, the Toowoomba Chamber has identified the following key Toowoomba Region Business priority needs:
- apply the Payroll Discount to all the Toowoomba Local Government Area;
- create a Regional Infrastructure Fund;
- increase investment in rural areas – Infrastructure, food security, and climate variation initiatives;
- implement a Red Tape Taskforce and Productivity Commission;
- create a one campus Tertiary Hospital at Ballie Henderson;
- implement of housing reform – increase land supply and enact stamp duty concessions;
- reform and invest in training pathways to meet business needs; and
- create of an infrastructure pipeline.
The Toowoomba Chamber will be advocating to all Queensland parties and local candidates to commit to deliver these key priorities, in the led up to the State election and beyond.
Join us on 9 October 2024, when we will hold a State Government Meet the Candidates Event to further advocate for these key matters, seeking commitments from all local candidates to put Toowoomba First. The forum forms part of the Toowoomba Chamber strategy to engage with elected officials from all levels of government.
2024 State Election Priorities
This is an opportunity for you to engage and discuss matters of business policy is impacting positively and/or negatively on the progress of Toowoomba and the region.
This is your opportunity to:
- ask probing questions of the State Government candidates, like providing public support for the payroll tax discount;
- provide feedback about what the Toowoomba business community and the region needs, like bringing forward the new hospital construction; and
- seek a guarantee that whoever wins government in 2024, Toowoomba will not be forgotten.
Grab your tickets and read the full Toowoomba Chamber 2024 State Election – Toowoomba Region Business Priorities document here
