With a year until the next election and behind in the polls, the Premier set aside the things the Government could not be blamed for: house prices, fuel prices and immigration, and talked up Queensland’s buoyant economy and her Government’s attempts to curb the cost of living as well as new initiatives in clean energy and small business.

“There are 276,600 more jobs in Queensland than in March 2020. Our economy is set to grow at 3 per cent this financial year, or twice as fast as the rest of the nation,” she told the CEDA forum in Brisbane.

“Our economic plan is working, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have challenges.”

She acknowledged that there was pain in the community and rising inflation and high interest rates were hurting, while immigration was fueling higher house prices.

The Premier said the $550 energy rebates would start to flow into the community to help curb spiralling electricity bills.

She also announced another $35 million in energy rebates for small businesses and rebates of up to $12,500 to install energy efficient equipment.

Eligible businesses that spend at least $8000 on energy-saving appliances would receive a 50 per cent rebate.

Among the new initiatives, the Government-owned CS Energy would take a 50 per cent stake in the Boulder Creek wind farm and hydrogen-ready gas turbines would be installed at the Kogan Creek energy hub and be operational by 2026.

Regional Queensland internet speeds would also be boosted through a plan using the energy grid and quantum science skills would be introduced to schools and TAFE through a Queensland Quantum Academy.

“And today I can announce the first hydrogen-ready gas turbines to be installed in Australia and operational by 2026.

“It will use renewable hydrogen made at the Kogan Clean Energy Hub.

“Work has also started on the Stanwell Clean Energy Hub that will use Maryborough-made iron flow batteries.

“Stanwell has also now entered into a partnership with Energy Storage Industries Asia Pacific to secure the first large-scale deployment of locally made flow batteries in Australia.

“Today I can also announce that CS Energy will own 50 per cent of the Boulder Creek wind farm in Central Queensland.”

The Premier said the Government’s planned SuperGrid had the capacity to also fibre optic cables, something that had been announced previously through a government-owned corporation Queensland Capacity Network.

“Since being established QCN has increased the amount of digital capacity it supplies across Queensland 12-fold,” she said.

“Today I can announce another $250 million investment to support a 100-fold increase in internet speeds in key parts of Queensland through the SuperGrid.

“This investment will bring fibre and wireless connectivity to the regions to bridge that digital divide.

“To create the largest publicly owned regional fibre network in the nation.

“It will provide capital city speeds in the regions supporting high-paying tech jobs.

“To support today’s announcement, QCN and Powerlink will begin early works immediately on the CopperString 2032 (a Townsville to Mt Isa transmission project) section of the Supergrid.

“These early works will lay the communications foundations for the construction rollout of CopperString.

“It’s the first step in the much bigger rollout of the QCN network across the Supergrid. ”

She said the Queensland Quantum and Advanced Technologies Strategy would invest $76 million to support the commercialisation of Queensland’s world-leading research in quantum technologies.

“The strategy will build on the new quantum and advanced technologies industry that is already developing right here in Queensland.

“It’s not futuristic, it’s happening right now. Companies and universities are already at work in this field.”

The Premier also invited businesses to join with the Government in a Skills Accord.

“We need to get our kids particularly in Years 9 and 10 excited about learning science technology, engineering, and mathematics.”