State of the Region Roadshow 2025

Connection and Collaboration

Due to the overwhelming success of the inaugural event in 2024, the Roadshow now sits firmly on the RDA Tropical North (RDATN) event calendar.  As part of the 2025 Roadshow, .id (Informed Decisions) delivered regional data and insightful presentations alongside our regional colleagues from AusIndustry, Dept of Home Affairs – Business, Industry and Regional Outreach (BIRO), nbn, Dept of Women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships and Multiculturalism, National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA), Office of Northern Australia (ONA).  Sessions were delivered in Cook Shire, Douglas Shire, Hope Vale Aboriginal Shire, Cairns Regional Council (Council and Community Sessions), and Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire.

In-Region Summary

 Key Themes Across the Region:

• Macro Trends (National & Queensland)

  • Australia’s population grew by 1.65% in 2024, with international migration the primary driver.

  • The national economy slowed, though late-2024 saw a return to modest growth.

  • Dwelling approvals rose slightly, but construction completions remained sluggish.

  • Queensland had the third-fastest population growth nationally, driven heavily by overseas migration (58% of growth over three years).

  • Wage growth (4.6%) exceeded inflation (3.4%), though productivity lagged due to slower GSP growth.

• Housing Pressures

  • Housing affordability and supply remain top concerns across all LGAs.

  • Regional Queensland saw sharper house price and rent increases compared to Brisbane, indicating a growing housing pressure in the north.

• Localised Economic Insights

  • In Tropical North Queensland, the top industries included:

    • Public Administration & Safety

    • Healthcare & Social Assistance

    • Construction

    • Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing

    • Transport & Logistics

  • GRP for the region reached $19.96 billion, with a local workforce of over 142,000 people.

• Community Sentiment

  • Liveability scores in Queensland trailed national averages, with lower satisfaction around safety and access to housing.

  • The Community Views and Housing Monitor tools highlighted areas of high unmet need and opportunity.

Regional Sessions…

Each of the ‘State of the Region’ economic data presentations available to download via the links below:-

Cairns Session Summary

The Cairns session of the State of the Region Roadshow was highly successful, with over 70 stakeholders attending from across local government, industry, and community sectors. The event featured presentations from key federal agencies, generating robust discussion and fostering valuable connections among attendees.

1. Regional Development Australia Tropical North – Sonja Johnson (CEO)

• Opened the session by outlining RDA Tropical North’s role as a conduit between local priorities and national policy.

• Highlighted the implementation of the Tropical North Queensland Economic Development Strategy 2024–2029 and progress made in water, housing, infrastructure, First Nations enterprise, and digital connectivity.

• Showcased regional project priorities including:

  • Cape York Regional Package 2

  • Lakeland and Etheridge Irrigation Projects

  • Cairns to PNG connectivity

  • FNQ housing supply pipeline

• Emphasised the importance of data-driven planning, cross-sector partnerships, and regional leadership to deliver on long-term economic goals.

2. Office of Northern Australia (ONA) – Tim Fulton

• Provided a comprehensive overview of the Northern Australia Action Plan 2024–2029, encompassing 178 current initiatives.

• Emphasised place-based investment, First Nations leadership, and alignment with national funding such as the Growing Regions Program and rPPP.

• Reinforced federal commitments to major infrastructure, connectivity, and workforce support across FNQ.

3. Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF) – Craig Doyle

• Detailed NAIF’s infrastructure investment model and impact:

  • Over $11B in public benefit in QLD

  • 19,500+ jobs supported nationally

• Showcased regional projects including the Cairns Airport Upgrade and Seniors Community Housing.

• Promoted NAIF’s Indigenous Engagement Strategy and its expanding toolkit for regional financing.

4. AusIndustry – John Chandler

• Introduced the Industry Growth Program, designed to support commercialisation of innovative products, services, and technologies.

• Grants up to $5M available for SMEs operating in key National Reconstruction Fund sectors.

• Stressed the importance of regional collaboration, cross-agency referrals, and local capability building.

5. National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) – Pandora Noronha

• Outlined reforms to the Indigenous Procurement Policy and new employment programs including:

  • Indigenous Skills and Employment Program (ISEP)

  • Remote Jobs and Economic Development Program (RJED)

• Emphasised Indigenous economic empowerment through flexible, community-led approaches and business mentoring.

6. Department of Home Affairs – Yvette Adams (Business, Industry and Regional Outreach – BIRO)

• Presented updates to the national migration strategy, including:

  • Skills in Demand visa (SID) with flexible streams

  • National Innovation Visa for exceptional talent

• Provided guidance on supporting regional employers to access skilled workers and navigate new visa pathways.

7. NBN Co – Nicole Carroll

• Shared regional connectivity upgrades underway and highlighted the importance of digital infrastructure in enabling economic growth, remote working, and education.

• Invited local government and businesses to identify priority areas for improved coverage and service delivery.

Cairns Presentations…

All presentations from the day are available to download via the links below:-

Regional Contacts…

The ‘Roadshow’ was also an excellent opportunity to connect with various government agencies directly for insights and Q&A’s on how they can assist.  Representatives from the following agencies travelled alongside RDATN.  Follow the links below to direct resources:-

L to R:  Nic Carroll, Greg Bowden, Steve Linnane, Mayor Bruce Gibson, Lainie Poon, Damian Blunden, Yvette Adams, John Chandler