Queensland’s Liberal National Party (LNP) claimed victory at the last state election, ending nine consecutive years of Labor governments while promising benefits to local entrepreneurs and startups.

In particular, the LNP used the election campaign to introduce its Small Business First policy, as well as a wide range of other business-focused initiatives.

Here’s what SMEs and startups need to know.

Wage subsidies for apprentices

In a major pre-election pledge, the LNP said it would establish a pilot scheme to subsidize apprentice wages paid by SMEs.

Over four-week blocks, the pilot project will subsidize 50% of wages paid to first and second year apprentices, and 25% paid to third and fourth year apprentices.

Initially, the program will focus on apprentices in the construction sector, addressing what the LNP calls a persistent shortage of skilled tradespeople.

Some 2,000 apprentices will be supported by this initiative.

The LNP said the policy would cost $19 million.

Concierge service for small businesses

The LNP is promising to create a small business concierge service, which Premier-elect David Crisafulli says will help local businesses deal with the state government.

This will “eliminate the question of where to get answers from the government, streamlining the process for everything from payroll to approvals and speeding up the processing of investigations,” Crisafulli said in September.

The plan appears to mirror the small business concierge service offered in NSW.

Reduction of administrative formalities

The new government also presented a plan plan your first 100 dayswhich includes “refocusing the Small Business Commissioner on reducing red tape and managing disputes for small businesses.”

Better access to public markets

The LNP has put government contracts at the center of its pitch to small businesses, saying tenders would be easier in a Crisafulli government.

It plans to simplify and streamline public procurement processes, offer smaller tenders and standardize contracts, with the aim of connecting more SMEs to government contract financing.

In doing so, it will echo the NSW Labor Party, which made expanded access to government contracts part of his winning 2023 campaign.

Additionally, the LNP is committed to establishing a Small Business and Family Enterprise Innovation Journeys program in Queensland.

Party documents suggest this route will involve innovative SMEs for short-term projects, focused on specific areas of government service delivery.

These short-term initiatives will receive funding of up to $1 million, the LNP said.

The LNP has not yet clarified what types of initiatives will be managed by the Innovation Pathway program.

Improved payment times

Since 1 July 2020, the Queensland Government has committed to paying small business suppliers within 20 calendar days, with penalty interest applied to any overdue invoices.

The LNP plans to reduce this time to just five days, to ensure that SMEs are paid even faster.

It says invoices worth less than $10,000 will be paid immediately, with the goal of increasing cash flow for the state’s smaller government vendors.

Crime Prevention for Small Businesses

Prime Minister-elect Crisafulli has made the fight against crime a major objective of his political agenda and this extends to crime against small businesses.

In early October, the LNP revealed details of a $40 million grant program to help prevent crime against SMEs, which will be delivered in partnership with local councils and chambers of commerce.

The two-year Safe Communities Partnership Program will include four rounds of grants, each worth $10 million.

The grants will be used to fund CCTV, security lighting and alarm systems to deter potential criminals from causing damage in shopping centers and commercial areas.

According to the LNP, store burglaries are a growing concern across the state, with small, mom-and-pop businesses facing increased repair and insurance costs as a result.

“The cost of crime is not just replacing what is stolen, it is also the thousands of dollars in repairs, the increased cost of insurance and the loss of business when a business is closed,” Crisafulli said in a statement.

“With costs rising everywhere, too many businesses are operating on a week-to-week basis and have no extra money to fund crime prevention – let alone the cost of break-ins. »

The new government has not yet released details on how businesses will be able to apply for these grants.

Micro-credentials for small business owners

Queensland small business owners looking to upskill their skills can get the chance thanks to new dedicated courses offered by the University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC).

Earlier this month, the new LNP government announced it would invest $11.5 million to deliver six business micro-credential courses in priority areas if elected.

According to Courier mailClasses will be delivered in-person and online and tailored to small business owner-managers.

However, it is unclear whether small business owners or the government would pay for the courses.

Opposition spokesman for small and family businesses Brent Mickelberg said the LNP would “support our small businesses all the way and give them the skills they need to be resilient and take advantage of growth opportunities “.

“UniSC courses are co-created and co-assessed by multiple industry partners, providing tangible support to small and medium-sized businesses in Queensland,” he said.

Innovation centers

Innovation and startup hubs in regional areas could also be considered, with the LNP suggesting it would dedicate funds to these if elected.

Few details are available on what the hubs might look like or where they might be located.

However, in September the LNP candidate for Barron River, Bree James said she would fight for an innovation hub to be created in Cairns to “help emerging startups with the support needed to take their businesses to the next level”.

James succeeded in his bid to take the seat from Labor incumbent Craig Crawford in Saturday’s poll.

Focus on tourism

Tourism was a major part of the LNP’s election platform, with the party pledging to establish a 20-year tourism roadmap in its first month in office.

One of the major points on the agenda: preparing the State for the influx of visitors expected for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games.

The LNP intends to appoint an independent authority to determine what types of infrastructure and transportation improvements are needed to accommodate these tourists.

Additionally, the party intends to form a ministerial subcommittee to help ecotourism operators get off the ground faster, by the end of 2024.

Agricultural Innovation Fund

The new state government plans to commit $30 million to an agricultural innovation fund, which it says will be a first for Queensland.

According to a statement released in early October, the aim of the Seeds of Farming Innovation fund will be to increase Queensland’s agricultural production to $30 billion over the next six years.

The investment will be made under the Cooperative Research Center model, in which universities and industry participants can apply for funding to “uncover the world’s best agricultural innovation.”

Premier-elect David Crisafulli said research and development will be key to the future success of the state’s $23.6 billion agricultural industry.

“The objective and key criteria of the fund would be how Queensland growers can achieve better on-farm productivity and ensure our growers are at the forefront of agricultural technology and innovation,” he said. he declared.

More TAFE teachers

Focusing on what it describes as the state’s “smallest skilled worker,” the new government has also pledged to spend millions of dollars on a “major recruitment drive” to increase the number of qualified TAFE teachers in the state.

This will involve a $2 million recruitment drive, featuring five dedicated facilitators who will be tasked with finding teaching staff to fill critical shortages in the TAFE system.

In the week before the election, Shadow Minister for Employment and Training Brent Mickelberg said current TAFE class sizes and teacher workloads were unsustainable and Queensland needed more qualified workers.

“We will be launching a recruitment drive targeting trade professionals, recently transferred Australian Defense Force veterans and stay-at-home parents looking to return to work,” he said.

The LNP also promised to create a dedicated TAFE teacher training precinct at the TAFE Center of Excellence in Moreton, as well as satellite precincts in Central and North Queensland.

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