BRISBANE, Australia—LNP Premier David Crisafulli outlined his ambitions to deepen U.S.-Queensland ties during an “Independence Day” address to the American Chamber of Commerce in Australia (AMCHAM) in Brisbane.
The premier touched on tariffs, defence, and tourism, but also added some new commitments to the mix.
He’s hoping for a permanent U.S. Consulate General to be based in Brisbane—something ideally achieved this term.
Another ambitious move is for Brisbane to host the next Quad foreign ministers’ meeting.
Crisafulli was also confident Australia’s third most populous state, Queensland, could overtake Victoria and Melbourne as the country’s second biggest investment destination behind Sydney.
“Our relationship with the U.S. shouldn’t be understated,” he said.
“We should lean on it, we should look to it, we should honour it and we should be proud of it.”
Crisafulli Not Caught Up in Tariff Concerns
The premier brushed off the “doom and gloom” reporting around the Trump administration.
“I don’t see it as doom and gloom, that’s the way it’s been portrayed everywhere,” he said.
While some may take issue with U.S. tariffs, Crisafulli says he sees opportunity. Australian policymakers are grappling with how to deal with the 10 percent “Liberation Day” tariffs that have the biggest impact on beef exports to the United States, as well as the 25 percent tariffs on steel and aluminium.
Crisafulli said U.S. demand for beef—where Queensland is a major contributor—is “not going anywhere in a hurry.”
“I also look at the new opportunities and particularly with a lens on those tariffs, and how great that could be for Queensland,” he said.
Crisafulli believes critical minerals are also another opportunity.
“Imagine an exemption for our critical minerals at a time when others are competing to get their products into one of our major markets,” he said.
“Our critical minerals are the best in the globe, they are mined to the highest environmental standards, with the best workers’ safety, and the best workers’ rights.
“That’s a point of difference and that’s an opportunity.”
Permanent Consul-General Presence
“The first is that I do want to see a permanent consul-general presence here in Queensland,” Crisafulli said.
“I am mindful of how well we have worked with our outgoing consular-general … I would love nothing more than to have that permanent presence,” Crisafulli said.
“I just think the message it will send to our good friends in the States about the importance of Queensland to have a dedicated contact point means a lot, and it would enable some of those business-to-business opportunities to be fast-tracked.”
The United States is the top investment destination for Australian businesses, and conversely, the United States is the top source for investment into Australia—far ahead of the second source, which is the United Kingdom.
The Push for the Quad in Queensland
Crisafulli said he was keen for his state to host the next Quad, or Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, a strategic dialogue between the United States, India, Australia, and Japan.
Quad meetings can be held more than once a year, and sometimes virtually. The next Quad leaders meeting is due this year, while next year, Australia is due to host a meeting between the four nations’ foreign ministers.
“Australia is due to host it, and I couldn’t think of a more appropriate place than Queensland to have it,” Crisafulli said.
Queensland to Overtake Melbourne: Premier
Crisafulli believes Melbourne ought to watch out, because 10 years from now, Queensland will be the investment state.
The premier says stakeholders are noticing the state’s recent performance.
“I do think that fast forward a decade, and the two cities that will be global cities from Australia, where people are looking to invest or play, will be Sydney and Brisbane,” he said.
“I think Brisbane will undoubtedly go past Melbourne, if we haven’t already, in places where people will want to invest, and that’s because of an array of things, but including a diversity of economy and clarity of message and vision for infrastructure delivery.”
Victorians have struggled with a raft of taxes to pay-off the state’s pandemic response debt, which has contributed to the closure of thousands of businesses and investors selling up properties.
Expanding Defence Manufacturing, Prioritising Veterans
Crisafulli said Australia could learn from who the United States valued veterans, saying he made a “conscious decision” to keep the veterans portfolio attached to him as premier.
“I want to send a message, firstly about how much we value service, and I think that’s something the U.S. has been a leader in in valuing the service of veterans—we have a lot to learn in that space — but the second is the opportunity, the opportunity that comes with AUKUS but just more generally the opportunity to reflect on what’s made us great in the past,” he said.
The premier also sees opportunities in expanding defence manufacturing locally.
“There are companies who are investing right now in Queensland, who are taking their operation, and doing one small component … the manufacturing minister went to to look at a Queensland company that builds the wings of one of the bombs for one of the U.S. defence lines.
“That’s one company employing 100 people doing one small element … Now that’s a massive opportunity, and what we can do is allow the private sector to do their job.”
Gearing Up for the Olympics
Ultimately, the Crisafulli government was pushing hard to transform the state and Brisbane in time for the 2032 Olympic games.
The LNP government has pledged 45 new eco-tourism projects across Queensland by 2045, projects he says will rake in state income while also pouring money back into conservation.
“There really is a golden era awaiting Queensland tourism,” he said.
Friends Read Free
Copy
Facebook
Tweet
