State Budget 25

MEDIA RELEASE

Townsville Chamber Welcomes Focus on Productivity, Crime, and Skills in State Budget

The Townsville Chamber of Commerce has welcomed key measures in the Queensland State Budget handed down today by Treasurer David Janetzki MP, with a clear focus on core services, business productivity, and regional workforce challenges but it doesn't go far enough on tax reform 

Chamber CEO Heidi Turner, who is in Brisbane for the budget this week, said the 2025–26 Budget strikes a pragmatic balance, prioritising health, education, roads and community safety, while offering targeted support to small businesses doing it tough.

“We’re pleased to see no new or increased taxes in this budget, and a clear commitment to improving productivity and workforce participation and we look forward to understanding how this funding will be delivered,” Ms Turner said.

“In particular, we welcome investment in safety and crime prevention. It’s encouraging to see practical measures that respond to the needs of both business and community.”

"This is the first year crime and safety has been a formal advocacy area for the Chamber, and we support the significant funding committed to prevention and deterrence,” Ms Turner said.

Key highlights for NQ business include:

> Continuation of the Regional Jobs Committees (RJC) for two more years, with the Townsville Chamber playing an active role in the NQ RJC to coordinate local workforce solutions.

> Funding for Skilling Queenslanders for Work and a dedicated fund to help women return to the workforce, like the program the Chamber are currently running to help skilled women into employment.

> A $130 million “Small Business First” action package including streamlined services, improved procurement access, reduced tape reduction and a support network offering financial counselling and business coaching.

> A $1.6 billion investment in electricity maintenance, which the Chamber hopes will place downward pressure on power bills one of the largest expenses for small business.

> Extension of the 50% apprentice payroll tax rebate for another 12 months.
However, Ms Turner noted more is needed to support the businesses employing apprentices.

> Significant investment into resources and critical minerals including $13m in new mineral exploration including the Queensland Common User Facility

“While the 50% apprentice rebate extension is welcome, we remain concerned that businesses are being penalised when an apprentice’s wage tips them over the payroll tax threshold. We continue to call for a staged increase in that $1.3m threshold for payroll tax and a full exemption for apprentices and trainees,” she said.

The Chamber also raised the ongoing need to address skills shortages, which continue to affect every sector.

“We need to grow and retain our regional workforce, but this also requires investment in the people who deliver training, our teachers and trainers. Without them, progress stalls. Skills shortages are putting pressure on productivity, delivery timelines, and business viability especially for small businesses.”

The Chamber welcomed the government’s ongoing commitment to the CopperString project and the $180 million Sovereign Industry Development Fund, aimed at building regional capabilities in key sectors such as defence, biomedicine, biofuels and tech.

"The certainty of the governments in investment in CopperString has already led to increased enquiries in office space in Townsville which is promising,"

Finally, the Chamber is eager to learn how regional Queensland can leverage the Olympic and Paralympic Games spend.

“This is the largest infrastructure investment in our state’s history. Townsville wants to ensure we benefit from the transport and legacy infrastructure, not just sporting projects,” Ms Turner said.

“We’ll be watching closely to see where the $9 billion already announced for Bruce Highway upgrades will be directed to improve regional connectivity.”

Ms Turner also noted a continuing area of concern for the local business community:

“We’re still paying stamp duty on insurance—a tax on a tax—on what is an essential service. This continues to be a frustrating and unnecessary cost burden," she said.

“We will continue to advocate for policies that reduce the cost of doing business, cut red tape, and remove unnecessary hurdles that prevent businesses from growing and thriving in North Queensland.”

"Yesterday I highlighted to the Treasurer in person that this was a solid first budget but we will continue to advocate for the abolition of payroll tax and removal of stamp duty on insurance as inhibitors for growth,"

The Townsville Chamber remains committed to working closely with all levels of government to ensure regional businesses are well supported, productive, and positioned for long-term growth.