Qld: Industry calls for skills, infrastructure funding in budget

AAP General News (Australia)
04-21-2008
Qld: Industry calls for skills, infrastructure funding in budget

By Gabrielle Dunlevy

BRISBANE, April 21 AAP - The Australian Industry Group (Ai Group) has called on the
Queensland government to direct more funds towards developing infrastructure and worker
skills.

In a survey the Ai Group released today, Queensland businesses identified a skills
shortage as the issue most restraining growth.

Almost 80 per cent of respondents in the survey, entitled 2008 Queensland Industry
Perspectives: A Snapshot of Industry Issues, said a lack of skilled labour would most
affect their businesses in the next 12 months.

More than 190 businesses responded to the survey, across manufacturing and related
sectors. They represent 10,000 employees and a sales volume of $3 billion.

Ai Group's Queensland director Chris Rodwell said the coming state budget must target
improving the state's workforce.

"Queensland's current skills plan certainly has most of the right policy settings.

The issue, therefore, comes down to one of funding," Mr Rodwell told AAP.

Also of concern to industry was the state's infrastructure.

More than a quarter of Queensland businesses believe the availability of industrial
land is the biggest infrastructure issue they face in the next year.

Next comes roads, with about 23 per cent of respondents saying poor roads would limit
the growth of their businesses. This problem was more serious for businesses outside of
Brisbane.

Mr Rodwell said the issue of land availability was a surprising finding.

"The availability (problem) also comes with an issue of affordability, not only in
south-east Queensland but in particular regional areas, especially Gladstone, Mackay and
Townsville," he said.

"Industry is also finding itself landlocked.

"On the Gold Coast, sprawling residential development is encroaching on industrial
land and it certainly raises significant problems."

The state government will hand down its budget on June 3.

AAP gd/pjo/it/cdh

KEYWORD: BUDGET QLD

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