AuBJ — January 27 — The Australian Industry Group (Ai Group) has prepared a document offering advice to the incoming Queensland government ahead of the state election on March 24.

Recommendations made by the not-for-profit association include continuing investment in infrastructure, including maintaining a pipeline of major infrastructure projects and addressing the state’s “significant red tape burden”.

The document entitled Resourcing the Future also advises that government spending is “efficient as possible” and that the size of the public sector is reduced “to a more sustainable level”.

Ai Group Queensland director Matthew Martyn-Jones said: “The past 18 months have been particularly challenging for the non-resource related sectors of industry with manufacturing, tourism and education all feeling the strains of the high Australian dollar.

“These sectors are large employers and contribute significantly to the economy. Governments need to play their part in the management of the impacts of the boom on these critical sectors.

“Queensland industry would like to see policy-makers look to the long term and invest strategically in supporting a diversified economy. Critical to this is strong leadership on innovation and focus on boosting the state’s productivity,” added Martyn-Jones.