News
16 August, 2025
Roundtable sparks fresh ideas to boost Blair
FEDERAL Member for Blair Shayne Neumann hosted a well-attended Blair Economic Reform Roundtable at Jets Leagues Club on Thursday, August 7, gathering around 30 local business leaders, union representatives, community groups, government officials, and experts.
The forum aimed to explore practical ideas to boost productivity and economic resilience in Ipswich, the Somerset Region, and surrounding areas.
Presentations from RACQ and Suncorp highlighted the critical role of transport connectivity, efficient insurance markets, and disaster resilience in sustaining the local economy.
Professor Glen Coleman from the University of Southern Queensland, along with renowned author and philanthropist Everald Compton OAM, discussed workforce challenges, intergenerational partnerships, and the importance of creating clear pathways from study to employment to encourage residents to stay in the region.
Adjunct Professor Rees Banks from RDA Ipswich & West Moreton provided valuable insights into employment statistics in Blair and emphasised the productivity advantages of living close to workplaces.
Mr Neumann said the forum covered a broad range of issues, from the urgent need to fast-track housing and road infrastructure projects to supporting local charities by cutting red tape and tackling sham contracting.
“Locally, we’ve seen strong economic and jobs growth in recent years, but we’ve got growing pains, and need to be investing in more housing, infrastructure, services and skills to support our high population growth,” he said.
“Ultimately, we want the local economy to deliver for people so they can have access to affordable housing, health and education services, be able to raise a family, and enjoy a good quality of life.
“And we want to keep securing good, well-paid jobs for locals, now and into the future.”
Mr Neumann added, it was “great to hear from a range of voices on how to tackle our local economic development challenges”.
“A key takeaway is we need to think differently, engage differently and do things differently in future if we’re going to shift the dial.”
As a next step, Mr Neumann will write to Treasurer Jim Chalmers so ideas from the Blair forum can contribute to the national Economic Reform Roundtable in Canberra from August 19–21.
