Growing regional Queensland’s success through industry and innovation

Queensland's next chapter won't be written in Brisbane alone. 

From critical minerals and renewable energy to advanced manufacturing, agriculture and tourism, regional Queensland is becoming one of Australia's most significant investment destinations. The question is no longer whether regional Queensland can lead the state's next phase of economic growth, but whether the right infrastructure, policy settings and investment decisions can keep pace. 

That was the central theme emerging from last year's Queensland Regions forum, and it has only become more pressing over the past 12 months. Those issues will again be central to this year's Annual Regions Summit. 

Future success will depend on more than market demand alone. Instead, productivity and prosperity will rely on governments, industry, and communities working together to deliver the foundations that let new industries grow. 

One of the strongest themes to emerge from last year's discussion was that regional Queensland's future will be built on existing competitive advantages, rather than entirely new industries. Mining, agriculture, tourism, and resources remain economic powerhouses, though they are evolving into higher-value opportunities including biomanufacturing, clean energy supply chains, and advanced manufacturing as innovation expands on what traditional industries can deliver. 

Three key examples emerged from regional hubs.

1. Mackay is building on its world-leading sugar industry to support biomanufacturing, creating opportunities to produce pharmaceuticals, food products, and advanced materials while continuing to strengthen its agricultural foundations. Investment in critical minerals and emerging technologies is also positioning the region for decades of future growth at the same time. 
2. Townsville has a multi-billion-dollar investment pipeline spanning critical minerals processing, defence, renewable energy, and advanced manufacturing that showcases how regional economies can become national industrial hubs, and how sovereign manufacturing capability and secure supply chains are becoming increasingly important drivers of investment decisions. 
3. Cairns has emerged as a key example of creating places where people choose to live, work, and build long-term careers. Investment in housing, water security, transport connections, sporting infrastructure, and major event facilities all contribute to making regional communities like Cairns attractive for skilled workers and their families. 

The 2025 discussion emphasised that projects to deliver affordable energy, reliable water, resilient roads, productive ports, or housing supply are not simply infrastructure projects. They are economic enablers that determine whether private investment proceeds or opportunities are lost to competing jurisdictions. 

For example, while Queensland possesses world-class renewable resources and abundant critical minerals, it’s affordable, reliable electricity that will ultimately determine the state's competitiveness. Instead of focusing on individual technologies, discussions need to centre on achieving practical outcomes that deliver lower costs, greater reliability, and stronger confidence for investors. 

Similarly, regional Queensland's future will require attracting and retaining skilled workers across multiple industries. That means expanding housing, strengthening universities, improving healthcare, creating meaningful career pathways, and ensuring young people can see long-term futures within their own communities. In this context, liveability and economic development must be presented as closely connected priorities. 

Collaboration will be essential in achieving success. Industry, investors, and all levels of government each have distinct roles to play; however, the greatest opportunities for long-term prosperity will come when regional priorities align with national strategies and investment frameworks, supported by coordinated decision-making. 

These insights provide the foundation for discussions at the 2026 Annual Regions Summit. Many of the opportunities identified in 2025 continue to gather momentum, while the pressures around infrastructure delivery, workforce availability, energy security, and project approvals have become even more significant.  

The conversation must now shift even more from identifying possibilities to determining how Queensland can successfully deliver them. 

For leaders across business, government, and the wider community, the 2026 Annual Regions Summit is an opportunity to revisit these themes, hear how the landscape has evolved in the past year, and contribute to the conversations shaping Regional Queensland's next chapter.  

Last year's forum stressed that the state's future prosperity will increasingly be built beyond the south-east corner. The question now is not whether regional Queensland can lead the next phase of economic growth, but how quickly Queensland can unlock its full potential. 

Register now to join this year's discussion and continue exploring the ideas, partnerships, and practical solutions that will help shape a stronger, more productive, and more resilient Regional Queensland.