Report tracks priorities' progress

A strong economy, high infrastructure investment and safer communities are among the highlights of the Queensland Government's 2005-06 Priorities in Progress report.

Priorities in Progress is the Government's annual report card to the community, evaluating the delivery of eight community outcomes which encompass all aspects of community experience, including economic development, community wellbeing and environmental sustainability.

The Priorities in Progress report helps the Government to make sure policy objectives are on track to deliver real solutions in the key policy areas of health, water, public safety, infrastructure investment, employment and education.

QSuper wins industry accolade

SuperRatings has named the QSuper Accumulation product its Rising Star for 2006-2007, after assessing more than 240 of Australia's major superannuation products.

Highly regarded as a statesman of the industry, QSuper's achievements this year have included milestones in both growth and innovation. As one of the leading super funds in Australia, QSuper also recently reached $20 billion in funds under management.

For further information about QSuper visit www.qsuper.qld.gov.au.

Golden Casket Foundation grant funding announced

Deputy Premier and Treasurer Anna Bligh has announced the outcome of the 2006 round of grants from the Golden Casket Foundation.

Over $1.2 million will go to six Queensland health and medical research institutes to conduct research into childhood obesity, skin culture for transplantation onto burn victims, cancer control, mental health service provision, and the purchase of equipment to undertake research into maternal obesity and breast cancer.

The successful recipients for the 2006 round are the Mater Medical Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, University of Sunshine Coast, Queensland Health Pathology Service and the Mater Health Services.

The Golden Casket Foundation is a partnership between the Queensland Government through Queensland Treasury and the Golden Casket Lottery Corporation Limited. Interest accrued on unclaimed first division lotto prizes is reinvested in the community through the Foundation.

For further information visit www.gcf.qld.gov.au or contact the Golden Casket Foundation Secretariat on (07) 3224 2724.

Treasury reports on a productive 2005-06

Queensland Treasury's 2005-06 Annual Report is one of the main tools we use to ensure we are accountable to the Queensland Government and the community. It provides information on our achievements, performance and financial position over the 2005-06 financial year. The report also links with our corporate plan, Ministerial Portfolio Statement and the Queensland Government's priorities and outcomes.

Some of our performance highlights in 2005-06 include:

• developing the Special Fiscal and Economic Statement and the 2006-07 State Budget
• assessing 33 Government-owned corporation investment proposals to the value of $3.8 billion
• providing grants from the community benefit funds totalling $40.39 million to 2,559 community projects
• refining the Shared Service Initiative operating model, resulting in the establishment of the Shared Service Agency on 1 July 2006.

The 2005-06 Annual Report is available on our website. A hard copy of the report can be obtained by contacting the Marketing and Communication Unit on telephone (07) 3225 8465.

2005-06 Annual Economic Report

The 2005-06 Annual Economic Report has once again shown the Queensland economy is going from strength to strength with another solid year of growth. For the tenth year, Queensland has recorded higher economic growth than nationally; at 3.8% compared with 2.4% in the rest of Australia.

The jobs market is also at an all time high with employment surpassing 2 million people for the first time in 2005-06, which maintains Queensland's unemployment rate at a near 30-year low of 5%.

Treasury tops national marketing awards

Following on from Queensland Treasury’s success at the Australian Marketing Institute's (AMI) state awards, the Responsible Gambling Community Awareness Campaign has now picked up the National Excellence Award for Social Marketing.

The AMI Excellence Awards are presented to organisations and marketers who have achieved success from innovative and effective marketing practices.

The responsible gambling community awareness campaign, coordinated by the Queensland Office of Gaming Regulation, is the first of its kind in Australia and featured cinema, radio, out of home/transit, sports stadium and press advertising. Marketing materials were also placed in gambling venues around Queensland.

The Queensland Office of Gaming Regulation picked up the Queensland Award in September, and on 11 October was presented with the national award in Melbourne.

'Smart Women' shine at recent award ceremony

The Queensland Smart Women - Smart State Awards recognise the achievements of women working in the fields of science, engineering and information and communication technology (ICT). This year's event was hosted by the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Women, Linda Lavarch at Parliament House in Brisbane.

Queensland Treasury sponsored the 2006 Student Encouragement Award, the winner of which was University student Bronwyn Galletly. This award recognises a student (or female members of a student team) who has shown outstanding achievement or potential.

Other winners are working on a wide range of projects from reducing nitrogen in stormwater, uncovering therapies for renal disease, running biotech laboratories and measuring tyre-road noise, to an information management solution designed to support the treatment of patients with cancer.

Treasury tops marketing awards

Queensland Treasury's Responsible Gambling Community Awareness Campaign was this week announced as the state winner of the Australian Marketing Institute's (AMI) Social Marketing Award. The AMI Excellence Awards are presented to organisations and marketers who have achieved success from innovative and effective marketing practices.

The responsible gambling campaign, coordinated by the Queensland Office of Gaming Regulation, is the first of its kind in Australia and featured cinema, radio, out of home/transit and press advertising. Marketing materials were also placed in gambling venues around Queensland.

The Responsible Gambling Community Awareness Campaign was designed to reinforce the responsible gambling behaviours that most gamblers already use. With the message 'Don't let gambling control you' and the tagline 'Gamble responsibly', it aimed to prevent people from becoming problem gamblers. The campaign was successful in creating awareness for responsible gambling practices and in creating responses amongst the target audience from gaining their attention to provoking reflection and action in relation to their gambling practices.

Our success at the State awards means Queensland Treasury automatically qualifies for the AMI's National Excellence Awards which will be announced in Melbourne on 11 October.

New population projections for Queensland

Queensland's population growth is the highest of all Australian states and territories and the Queensland Government's new population projections show that strong growth will continue for many years to come.

Our State's population passed four million late last year and is expected to reach five million by 2019, six million by 2032 and seven million by 2050.

The revised population projections update those of 2003 and take into account new data and new perspectives on fertility, mortality and migration. It is expected that continued high net interstate and overseas migration and a rising number of births will contribute to the population increase over the coming years.

For more information, download the Queensland Government Population Projections to 2051: Queensland and Statistical Divisions (2nd edition, 2006) from Treasury's Office of Economic and Statistical Research (OESR) website.

A better future for Queensland? Count me in

On Tuesday, 8 August 2006, all Queenslanders will participate in the 2006 Census.

The national Census of Population and Housing gives everyone a chance to make themselves and their communities count.

And an accurate count from the Census means the Government can better plan and deliver services which specifically target the needs of Queensland's unique communities.

Through your participation, we can count on a better future for Queensland.

For the latest updates on the Queensland Government's Census 2006 Awareness Campaign, visit the Office of Economic and Statistical Research website.

Review of Queensland Competition Authority Act

Industry and other interested groups are invited to give their views on potential changes to the Queensland Competition Authority Act 1997 (QCA Act).

It's been almost 10 years since the QCA Act was introduced, making now an ideal time to review how our infrastructure and investment environment can be more competitive.

A consultation paper is available to download, and calls for comments on key issues such as:

• price monitoring as a less intrusive alternative to price regulation
• time limits on regulatory processes while still allowing proper consideration of issues
• whether further changes to regulation and processes are needed to better accommodate strategic investment.

Coinciding with this review, Queensland is considering how to effectively implement the requirements of the new Competition and Infrastructure Reform Agreement signed by the Council of Australian Governments in February 2006. Find out more about the review.

2006-07 State Budget

The State Budget was handed down on Tuesday, 6 June 2006.

The 2006-07 State Budget will focus on achieving strong economic growth to maintain record low levels of unemployment and increased tax competitiveness through a range of enhanced tax measures.

It will also deliver on key priorities such as improved health care and strengthened services to the community, additional funding to enhance child protection services and to increase the number of police officers across the State, and increased investment in Queensland's education system to modernise and refurbish the State's school facilities and vocational education and training system.

Investment in Queensland's capital works budget will also increase and is set to top $10 billion for the first time in 2006-07, making it the country's biggest capital works program per capita.

Visit the State Budget 2006-07 website for more information.

Debunking the GST myths!

Recently a lot of political discussion and media attention has been given to the distribution of the goods and services tax (GST) funding, with New South Wales in particular strongly disputing the GST distribution process and claiming it as unfair.

Queensland however supports the principle of fiscal equalisation, and has accepted the Commonwealth Grants Commission's 2006 Update report regarding the distribution of GST funds between the states.

On Friday, 31 March the Commonwealth, State and Territory Treasurers met in Canberra to discuss the distribution of the GST pool for the 2006-07 financial year and with the exceptions of New South Wales and Victoria, all states and territories agreed they are satisfied with the way GST revenue is currently divided among them.

With so much attention focussed on this topic lately, you might now be wondering why some states and territories need more GST revenue than others and how the distribution is worked out. To find out more about the process and to debunk some of the myths that exist, simply download our new range of GST distribution factsheets.

Energy Government Owned Corporations (GOCs) Structural Review

The Special Fiscal and Economic Statement delivered on 25 October 2005 included an announcement that a review would be undertaken of energy GOCs to ensure that their structural arrangements were best suited to allow them to compete in the changing energy market both in Queensland and nationally.

Boston Consulting Group (BCG) was appointed as advisers to the Review to provide commercial and strategy advice. A copy of BCG's detailed report (PDF 2,195 K) is available.*

A copy of a presentation which provides an overview of the Government's response to BCG's recommendations (PDF 175 K) is also available.

*  Certain sections of the report have had to be removed to protect information which is Commercial-in-Confidence.

Golden Casket Foundation funding round now open

Deputy Premier and Treasurer Anna Bligh has announced the opening of the 2006 round of grants from the Golden Casket Foundation.

The Golden Casket Foundation is a partnership between the Queensland Government through Queensland Treasury and the Golden Casket Lottery Corporation Limited. Interest accrued on unclaimed first division lotto prizes is reinvested in the community through the Foundation.

Eligible research organisations in hospitals, universities and independent medical institutes across Queensland can apply for up to $250,000 for health and medical research projects and equipment. Applications close on 23 June 2006.

For funding information and to access application forms, visit www.gcf.qld.gov.au or contact the Golden Casket Foundation Secretariat on (07) 3224 2724.

Calling all graduates

Want to work in Queensland's lead economic and finance agency with some of the best professionals in the business? Queensland Treasury has just made this goal easier for you with the launch of the 2007 Graduate Program.

At Queensland Treasury, our graduates are an important asset. Our Graduate Program is one of the best in the country and it's all about professional development and helping you build a bright future. Our graduate website provides all the essential details regarding Queensland Treasury's 2007 Graduate Program which seeks graduates from a variety of fields including economics, finance, law, business and so much more.

With so much to gain, why not take a look at our updated graduate website and apply to become a part of the Queensland Treasury team. Be quick as applications for the 2007 graduate program close on 12 May 2006!

Introducing the financial management framework

Queensland Treasury is pleased to announce that the financial management framework website is now available online.

The financial management framework is an online resource that explains the processes and steps involved in converting government planning, resource allocation and reporting into outcomes for Queensland communities.

The resource is intended to provide an easy and comprehensive reference point for everyone working in the Queensland public sector as it contains information at both agency and whole-of-government levels.

New Ministerial arrangements

On 2 February 2006, Deputy Premier Anna Bligh was sworn in as Queensland Treasurer, replacing the Premier Peter Beattie in the role. The Deputy Premier's full title is Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for State Development, Trade and Innovation.

Read the Premier's Ministerial media release to find out more about the new arrangements. A full list of the State Parliament's current members and Ministerial responsibilities is available on the Queensland Parliament website.

Report highlights successful grants

Did you know that 2,160 not-for-profit community groups received funding adding up to nearly $33 million in 2004-05, thanks to the Gambling Community Benefit Fund?

You can find out more about the Fund and the positive impacts it's having on Queenslanders' lives by taking a look at the GCBF 2004-05 Annual Allocations Report. Read about successful projects, grant allocations and the activities of the Fund and its Committee.

For copies of the GCBF 2004-05 Allocations Report or for further information, visit the Gambling Community Benefit Fund website or telephone (07) 3247 4284 or 1800 633 619 (freecall outside the metropolitan area).

Report tracks priorities' progress

A strong economy, record infrastructure investment and safer communities are among the highlights of the Queensland Government's 2004-05 Priorities in Progress report.

Priorities in Progress is the Government's annual report card to the community, evaluating the delivery of eight community outcomes which encompass all aspects of community experience, including economic development, community wellbeing and environmental sustainability.

The Priorities in Progress report helps the Government to make sure policy objectives are on track to deliver real solutions in the key policy areas of economic growth, health, education, employment and infrastructure investment.