opportunities on show for international visitors

million Queensland Critical Mineral Strategy.

Brisbane, 30 June: A delegation of international investors and resources leaders will see the potential of Queensland’s potential multi-billion dollar critical minerals sector.

Resources Minister Scott Stewart will lead a delegation of more than 20 people on a tour of Mt Isa, Cloncurry and Townsville.

The delegates have spent the week in Brisbane at the World Mining Congress, which is being held for the first time in Australia.

The Palaszczuk Government has this week released a new strategy to oversee a $245 million investment that will position Queensland as a global leader in delivering the critical minerals the world needs to move to a netzero emissions future.

Queensland Mental Health Commissioner re-appointed

• Ivan Frkovic extends his time as Queensland’s Mental Health Commissioner for the next three years.

• Mr Frkovic will continue to oversee development and implementation of the whole-of government strategic plan to improve the mental health and wellbeing of Queenslanders.

• Queensland Government has committed a record-breaking $1.64 billion to continue expanding mental health support.

Brisbane, 30 June: Ivan Frkovic has been re-appointed as Commissioner of the Queensland Mental Health Commission for the next three years, seeing his time in the role extend to nine years.

Mr Frkovic was appointed to the role in 2017, boasting 30 years’ experience in the Queensland mental health sector.

His new three-year term as Commissioner will begin on July 1, tasked with driving ongoing reform towards a more integrated, evidence-based and recovery-oriented mental health, drug and alcohol system in Queensland.

The Commission’s objectives are achieved primarily through the delivery and implementation of its whole-of-government strategic plan, Shifting Minds. With further plans – Achieving balance: The Queensland Alcohol and Other Drugs Plan 2022–2027 and Better Care Together –released last year to assist with driving reform in this space.

Development of the plans support recommendations from the Mental Health Select Committee’s Inquiry, looking at the opportunities to improve mental health outcomes for Queenslanders.

The Queensland Government has already announced several initiatives following the inquiry, including the establishment of Head to Health adult and children’s services, an expansion of Queensland’s Police Drug Diversion Program and the introduction of drug checking services in Queensland for the first time.

A record-breaking $1.64 billion was also announced as part of the Palaszczuk Government’s 2022-23 Budget to fund mental health support over the next five years.

Holocaust Museum officially opens in Brisbane

• The Palaszczuk Government has today opened Queensland’s first holocaust museum and education centre in Brisbane

• The centre honours the legacy of those who faced human rights abuse and genocide

• Jointly funded by the Palaszczuk Government and Brisbane City Council, the centre aims to inform and inspire Queenslanders to stand up to all forms of racism and prejudice Brisbane, 30 June: Queensland’s first holocaust museum and education centre has been officially unveiled today in Brisbane’s Cathedral Precinct. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk today joined Chair of the Queensland Holocaust Museum and Education Centre Jason

Steinberg and Queensland Holocaust survivors to officially open the Queensland Holocaust Museum and Education Centre.

Locally-recorded stories of Holocaust survivors and their families living in Queensland feature prominently alongside tributes to non-Jewish people who risked their lives to save Jewish people, including those awarded the prestigious "Righteous Among Nations" honour.

An online museum will shortly be available, and a unique mobile facility is being developed to travel throughout the state to ensure all Queenslanders have access to the valuable resources available through the centre.

The Queensland Holocaust Museum and Education Centre will stand as a legacy to inform and inspire Queenslanders to stand up against racism and prejudice in all forms.

The museum and education centre was established thanks to $3.5 million in funding from the Palaszczuk Government, which will be matched by the Australian Government, and a Brisbane City Council pledge of $500,000. The opening follows the introduction of new Hate Crimes legislation to ban the display of hate symbols, such as those representing Nazi ideology. When enacted, the legislation will impose increased penalties for offences that are motivated by hatred or serious contempt and the existing offence of serious vilification.

Queensland confirmed as Australia’s favourite holiday destination

• Queensland welcomes 26 million domestic visitors in the year to March 2023.

• Record number of interstate holiday makers.

• Domestic and international visitors spend $32.9 billion.

Brisbane, 28 June:New Tourism Research Australia data for the year to March 2023 confirms Queensland as Australia’s top holiday destination.

A record 11.3 million Australians holidayed in Queensland, up 24 percent, delivering an unprecedented 50.5 million holiday nights and a nationleading $16.7 billion, 29.8 per cent share of holiday Overnight Visitor Expenditure.

Interstate holiday makers to Queensland jumped 17 per cent regions broke records for domestic visitor spending. Spending on business travel to Queensland including conventions and conferences was up 12.7 per cent on pre-pandemic 2019 data to a record $4.5 billion.

Overall, Queensland welcomed a record 26 million domestic visitors and 1.3 million international visitors generating $29.3 billion and $3.6 billion, respectively, for a $32.9 billion total visitor spend. on pre-Covid data to a record 3.9 million, spending $9.8 billion in the year to March 2023.

In the year to March 2023, New Zealand was Queensland’s leading source of international visitors, followed by the UK, US, India and Japan.

Brisbane (2.46 million), the Sunshine Coast (2.48 million) and the Fraser Coast (460,000) welcomed more domestic holiday visitors than ever before with total visitors to the Gold Coast hitting a record 4.22 million.

10 of Queensland’s 11 tourism

• FIFA Women’s World Cup Trophy lands in Brisbane, as part of an international trophy tour.

• More than 200,000 tickets sold for Brisbane’s eight World Cup matches, showcasing Queensland to the world.

• The 2023 event will be in the biggest female sporting event ever, as 32 teams compete for the first time.

Brisbane, 28 June: Queenslanders will this week have a once-ina-lifetime opportunity to see the FIFA Women’s World Cup trophy up close, ahead of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023. The trophy will visit Brisbane, the Gold and Sunshine Coasts and Moreton Bay this week. It has already visited Sydney, Melbourne and New Zealand’s Auckland, Hamilton and Dunedin.

Premier and Legacy ‘23 Ambassador Annastacia

Palaszczuk joined FIFA legend and two-time Women’s World Cup winner Kristine Lilly to unveil the trophy at South Bank today.

Brisbane’s iconic Lang Park will host eight of the 64 matches held between Australia and New Zealand, including a quarter final

Queensland seeing gold ahead of FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 Strategy to grow Queensland’s critical mineral sector

• The Palaszczuk Government has unveiled a new strategy to oversee a $245 million investment into the state’s critical minerals sector.

• Queensland has an abundance of critical minerals which are needed to build the infrastructure required to transition to a netzero emissions future.

• The strategy will support thousands of good jobs in regional Queensland Brisbane, 28 June:The Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk unveiled the Queensland Critical Mineral Strategy at the World Mining Congress in Brisbane today. The new strategy positions Queensland as a global leader in delivering the critical minerals the world needs to move to a netzero emissions future.

The Strategy will oversee a $245 million investment into growing Queensland’s critical mineral sector, it will:

• Reduce rent for new and existing exploration permits for minerals to $0 for the next five years, worth $55 million.

• Establishing critical mineral zones, initially at Julia Creek/ Richmond and around Mount and the third-place playoff. More than 200,000 tickets have been sold to the eight matches, with some still available.

On the back of a successful Women’s State of Origin competition, women’s football participation in Queensland is rising rapidly.Last year more than 70,000 women and girls across the state participated as players, coaches, referees, administrators and volunteers - that number is set to soar with a 19 per cent yearon-year increase seen already in 2023.

This is encouraged by $10 million committed in this year’s State Budget for inclusive facilities at Queensland’s community sport clubs, particularly improving access and inclusivity for women, girls and people with a disability. This funding builds on $2.6 million invested to upgrade community sporting facilities including a number being used as training sites and base camps. The FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 is forecast to generate $30.5 million for Queensland’s visitor economy and support 107 fulltime jobs.

Isa, with $75 million to support investment and renewed focus in advancing critical minerals projects.

• Establish Critical Minerals Queensland, a one-stop office to oversee the development of the sector and help drive and attract international investment.

• Invest $5 million to target mining waste and tailings for critical minerals, and $8 million towards scientific research including circular economy initiatives

• Provide $1 million to foster research and ESG excellence

• Deliver the $100 million Critical Minerals and Battery Technology Fund to support new investments in projects “In Queensland we have some of the world’s richest mineral-producing areas, which in North Queensland alone is estimated to be worth $500 billion dollars.

“This is why our government is investing $5 billion to build CopperString 2032, to connect the North West Minerals Province, with the largest renewable energy zone on the east coast of Australia to mine and process critical minerals with renewable energy.