The Queensland budget is out – so what does it mean for small business?

There’s some welcome practical support, but many of the bigger structural issues remain.

At a time when businesses are dealing with rising operating costs, workforce shortages and economic uncertainty, the budget delivers a welcome package of practical support. The centrepiece is the $100 million Small and Family Business First Action Statement, focused on business capability development, supporting digital adoption, improving access to procurement and backing regional growth.

New investment in cybersecurity, AI adoption and small business micro-credentials, recognises Queensland’s competitiveness will increasingly depend on the productivity and capability of its small business sector.

It’s also encouraging to see a focus on skills with the introduction of a Small Business Apprenticeship Pilot and extended payroll tax rebates for apprentices and trainees to help businesses invest in their future workforce while easing some of the associated costs. These measures will be especially valuable in regional Queensland, where labour shortages remain a significant barrier to growth.

Regional businesses will also benefit from the new Regional Business Gateways Program, alongside continued infrastructure investment and electricity price relief. These initiatives recognise that business growth depends on strong regional economies.

Importantly, many of these measures aim to improve long-term productivity rather than short-term relief.

But the bigger reforms many businesses are looking for are largely absent. Insurance costs, regulation, workplace complexity and payroll tax remain significant challenges for growing firms, with only limited movement on broader reform to reduce the cost of doing business.

There’s also relatively little targeted support for startups and high-growth ventures, area that will be critical if Queensland wants to diversify its economy and develop future industries.

Overall, this is a sensible and pragmatic budget that provides useful support for small businesses. However, it leans more towards short-term relief than long-term reform. Sustained competitiveness will depend on the next step: making Queensland an easier, more productive and more rewarding place to grow a business.

Click here to read the Business Chamber Queensland media release.