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Questions Without Notice Questions without notice are asked of Ministers and answered during Question Time.
Mr LAWLOR: My question is to the Premier. Premier, what government support has been undertaken to assist a Gold Coast developer in one of the world's most exciting resort developments taking place in Dubai?
Mr BEATTIE: I thank the member for Southport, because I know he has a keen interest in this. Queensland has made an important inroad into the booming Gulf market with the launch of a prestigious project in Dubai. On 18 May a joint venture involving Gold Coast developer Sunland, Emirates International Holdings and the Versace Group launched the $US700 million-or $A926 million-Palazzo Versace resort project. The government's key role in the project was acknowledged in a media conference attended by more than 120 people, including international media. The letter of congratulations from the Queensland government to the joint venture partners was read to the conference. The project will be developed on six hectares of land in a new waterfront precinct in Dubai. It will have 215 suites, 204 villas and is expected to be completed in 2008. That is a decent sized project when one considers that it has 215 suites and 204 villas. It is a very significant project.
Sunland and Emirates International Holdings will also jointly develop a major high-rise project in the United Arab Emirates. The Queensland government used commercial networks in the United Arab Emirates to introduce Emirates International Holdings to the Sunland group. On 23 September 2004 in Queensland the Deputy Premier and Treasurer witnessed the signing of the joint agreement on my behalf. My department is now working with the joint venture partners in seeking to maximise the number of Queensland goods and services supplied to project contractors and subcontractors.
I thank the member for Southport for his question, because he understands the importance of the Middle East, and Dubai in particular, to trade and investment in this state. As we develop the Smart State Strategy and the export culture, we have to make certain that we investigate markets where we can have not only long-term strategies but also strategies that will work. That is why under my government there have been significant initiatives in new emerging markets such as China, India and the Middle East.
I flag to the House that we will continue to work to develop these links. We have established a representative in Doha and we will continue to take advantage of the Middle East market. It is an area with an enormous amount of wealth and an enormous amount of investment opportunities. Anybody who has been to Dubai will understand exactly what I have said.
As the minister for trade I intend to continue to focus on this area. I thank the member for Southport and future minister for his interest in this matter, because he knows what it means for Queensland: it means jobs and opportunities. That is why Queensland has the lowest unemployment rate in Australia. Last changed: [PUBLISHED_DATE] at 12:00 AM
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