Labor’s Advance Queensland a $50m investment in the future

Media Release

A future Labor Government will grow Queensland as a knowledge hub of Australia and invest in the industries of the future, Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk said today.
Launching one of Labor’s key jobs policies, Advance Queensland, Ms Palaszczuk said the plan would involve investing $50 million over three years to attract the best and brightest researchers to Queensland to develop new and exciting industries.
Ms Palaszczuk said the policy would reinvigorate research and development and harness ideas to create the secure, knowledge-based jobs of tomorrow.
“It’s absolutely essential that we give Queenslanders the best chance possible at getting jobs now and getting jobs in the future,” she said.
“We need to identify the opportunities now so young Queenslanders can access jobs tomorrow.”
Ms Palaszczuk said that based on feedback and ideas received as part of the consultation, the Advance Queensland policy would provide:
- 100 Advance Queensland Research Fellowships, targeting research that will help protect our Great Barrier Reef and stimulate new industries such as industrial biotechnology
- a Knowledge Transfer Partnerships Program to improve collaboration between the research sector and industry
- a three-year payroll tax holiday for new companies coming to Queensland as a result of Advance Queensland research programs
- 20 Advance Queensland University Scholarships to post-graduate students each year, to encourage women, Indigenous students and those from low socio-economic areas to pursue a Master’s degree in specific fields of study, and
- the Advance Queensland Women’s Academic Fund to support female researchers to help them advance their careers.
“These initiatives and others will not just create jobs for current industries, but jobs for the future in new, emerging markets,” she said.
Ms Palaszczuk said the Advance Queensland policy also included a review of the teaching of science, technology and mathematics subjects in schools.

“The review will examine the potential for creating a new wave of science champions in schools who will encourage the next generation of students to get interested in science.”