August 7, 2026
It was a pleasure to recently welcome students and staff from Proston State School to Queensland Parliament House.
Making the journey from Proston to Brisbane is no small undertaking, and I commend the students, teachers and families who made the trip possible. Visits like these provide a valuable opportunity for young Queenslanders to experience firsthand how our state’s democracy works and to learn more about the role Parliament plays in shaping our communities.
Parliament House is one of Queensland’s most significant public buildings, and I believe it is important that students from all corners of our state have the opportunity to visit and experience it for themselves. Seeing where laws are debated and decisions are made helps bring classroom learning to life and encourages young people to become engaged and informed citizens.
For students from regional and rural communities, these experiences can be particularly meaningful.
They provide an opportunity to connect with the wider Queensland community while gaining a deeper understanding of the democratic institutions that serve all Queenslanders, no matter where they live.
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Investing in Tourism Opportunities Across Our Region
The Crisafulli Government is continuing to back regional Queensland, with applications now open for the second round of the $20 million Regional Tourism Infrastructure Fund.
After strong interest in the first round, grants of up to $300,000 are now available to help tourism operators and communities deliver new experiences, upgrade infrastructure and attract more visitors to our regions.
As part of the government’s Destination 2045 vision, this fund supports innovative tourism projects, from nature-based attractions and farm-gate experiences to infrastructure improvements that encourage visitors to stay longer and explore more of what Queensland has to offer.
This investment is about giving local communities and tourism operators the support they need to turn great ideas into reality, creating jobs, strengthening local economies and showcasing the best of regional Queensland.
I encourage eligible tourism operators and community organisations to explore this opportunity and consider how it could benefit our region.
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TradieStart Program
Queensland is investing in the next generation of skilled tradespeople through the new TradieStart program and the extension of the Small Business Apprenticeship Program.
With a predicted peak shortfall of 50,000 skilled construction workers, these initiatives will help build the workforce needed to deliver future homes, hospitals and roads across the State.
TradieStart will provide a base payment of $10,000 to businesses that take on apprentices in construction, plumbing, engineering and electrical trades.
The Small Business Apprenticeship Program will also offer wage subsidies to support a further 2000 construction apprentices.
The Queensland Government has partnered with Construction Skills Queensland to support apprentice training and help address workforce shortages in key industries.
- For more information, click on these links: TradieStart or the Small Business Apprenticeship Program
