Developing stronger regions is one of the key priority areas in the government response to growth management.

As part of this priority, the government is committed to building stronger regions, ensuring growth and economic opportunities are shared throughout Queensland and taking the pressure off South East Queensland. This will be achieved through new initiatives that support regionalisation and decentralisation.

To deliver on this priority, five key initiatives and three supporting actions have been identified.

Five key initiatives

Queensland Regionalisation Strategy

Deliver a Queensland Regionalisation Strategy to encourage population growth and economic development outside South East Queensland. The final QRS was launched on 21 December 2011.

Regional first home owners grant

Introduce an $11,000 Regional First Home Owners Grant for building new homes to ensure regional growth, providing a $4000 boost to the existing First Home Owners Grant.

The Regional First Home Owners Grant applies to contracts entered into on or after 1 June 2010 and is aligned to the Queensland Regionalisation Strategy.

Decentralise government agencies

Decentralise government agencies in South East Queensland to Fitzgibbon and Bowen Hills as the next step in the decentralisation agenda. This follows the government’s existing commitment to decentralise to Ipswich.

Relocate some government functions to regional Queensland

Relocate some government functions to regional Queensland to progress the regionalisation agenda.

Townsville Futures Plan

Develop a Townsville Futures Plan to support regional growth and economic development in Townsville in partnership with Townsville City Council and other local stakeholders. The plan which aims to position Townsville as the key centre for North Queensland is currently open for public consultation.

Three supporting actions

Queensland migration plan

Partner with the Australian Government to establish a Queensland Migration Plan, which will include a bilateral agreement between the state and federal governments to set skilled and business migration priorities and identify ways to better retain skilled migrants in regional areas that need their skills. This will inform the Queensland Regionalisation Strategy.

National population strategy

Work with the Australian Government to develop a National Population Strategy (that is then reflected in a state policy).

Employment projections

Develop and include employment projections in all regional plans to support more jobs closer to where people live as part of the preparation of regional plans across Queensland.