Business closures
Two industry divisions nationally showed an annual decrease in business counts in 2017-18:
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing showed the largest decrease in business counts of any industry in 2016-17, down 0.9% or 1,634 businesses.
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing also had the lowest entry rate of any industry in 2017-18 at just 7.2%.
- The population in remote Queensland declined in 2019 by 0.6% while the overall population of Queensland climbed by 1.7%
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, 1 and 2
What's the issue?
Small business is struggling in regional Queensland, with families closing shop on essential products and services.
Why does it matter?
Vulnerable people in regional communities are left to rely on their family and friends to source essential goods like food, fuel, healthcare and more. The cost of a day's travel for these can blow out beyond affordability.
What's the solution?
We need infrastructure investment, capital injections, favourable tax treatment, and an available labour force in our regions
"What a lot of people don’t realise is that what happens in regional Queensland has a flow-on effect to the rest of the State – to the agricultural community and to the city. Our local petrol station closed recently, so now, if you want to fill up, you have to drive almost 30 minutes each way. That’s tough, especially on the elderly, disabled and other vulnerable people in the area."
Here's how it can be
Strong leadership and local innovations
Our communities have strong and capable leadership, diverse industries with employment opportunities, and a synergy between town and country.
A competitive agribusiness industry
Being able to compete on a national and global scale is important, and digital connectivity will give us a leg up on other states.