Tag: State Government
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Veteran Labor Minister named Treasurer after shock Cabinet resignations
Minister Tom Koutsantonis is replacing Stephen Mullighan in the job as the state’s Treasurer after Mullighan and Deputy Premier Susan Close announced their shock resignation from Cabinet on Thursday, saying they would not contest the next state election. Emily Bourke takes on Koutsantonis’ former Infrastructure and Transport portfolio. Koutsantonis was Treasurer in the former Labor…
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How a new green energy sector could come knocking for millions more from taxpayers
The dollar figures being produced in the battery supply chain are dizzying. While demand is strong one of them, Redflow, went into voluntary administration recently, despite government support and several successful deals including an MOU for a battery at Stanwell’s $100 million project near Rockhampton. It was also planning a Queensland factory to manufacture batteries…
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Renters dodge a bullet as government outlaws ‘rental bidding’, backs annual price hikes
Nearly two million renters in the state will be protected by strengthened laws that ban any form of rent bidding and only allow rent to be increased once a year on a property. “These reforms are about making renting fairer, safer and easier,” Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon said in a statement. “It means renters…
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Hutt Street Centre calls for millions in state funding
The Aspire program is a collaboration between Hutt St Centre, the state government and community housing providers to help people who are experiencing chronic homelessness in metropolitan Adelaide. The program’s funding, which previously came from Social Impact Bond, a private investor, runs out in June and centre CEO Chris Burns is asking for $15 million…
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Labor versus Labor: Dick refuses to support Minister over infrastructure
About $7 billion was cut from project delivery and Dick said that was on top of the $5.7 billion in cuts to water infrastructure previously announced. The most recent announcement meant nine projects were cut and a further five put on hold while further planning work was done. That included the extension of heavy rail…
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Don’t punt on quick end to housing crisis as Cup day rate hikes likely
On Friday, the Australian bond market was pricing in a 63 per cent chance of a hike next week and if the RBA holds off that jumps to an 84 per cent probability for a rate hike in December. The likely hike comes as the struggle to meet housing demand escalated and the State Government…
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Are we really happy about building a $3.6b altar to an industry we don’t trust?
It’s a massive construction and engineering achievement. Clever design, too, with the Neville Bonner bridge delivering people from South Bank like an intravenous line into the belly of gambling. Without doubt, there will be massive benefits from the project such as entertainment in a dead part of the city, jobs and tourism. Already, the city…
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Pump it up: Case for rate hike builds as energy appliance rebate lifts sales
The Australian Bureau of Statistics said the increase of 0.9 per cent was related to the release of the new iPhone, a warmer than usual start to Spring and the Queensland Government’s energy saver rebate on electrical items, which created a short-term lift in sales. ANZ economists Madeline Dunk and Adelaide Timbrell said the bumper…
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Nailed it: Government brings in new powers to buy land, fast-track housing projects
The legislation would allow the State to acquire land or purchase land or create an easement for critical infrastructure to unlock development. That would include water infrastructure, transport infrastructure, parks and community facilities. The Government would also be given a new assessment criteria, or a state facilitated application, to speed up priority development. This could…
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Blowing up deluxe: Farmers get the wind up over being left out of wind farm review
The Queensland Government has announced a review after concerns were raised about the environmental impacts of the windfarm development. The review of the Wind Farm Code (State Code 23) and its accompanying guidelines was aimed at building greater community and industry confidence in clean energy projects. Planning Minister Steven Miles said clear and predictable regulatory…