Minister for Finance, Trade, Employment and Training The Honourable Ros Bates Minister for Primary Industries The Honourable Tony Perrett

18 August 2025

JOINT MEDIA STATEMENT: Crisafulli Government delivers fresh crop of agriculture training opportunities

• New initiative will fast-track skills development in primary industries sectors including agriculture, fisheries and forestry.
• $3 million primary industries fund established to unlock training projects to further bolster regional workforce.
• The Crisafulli Government is delivering on its election commitment to create a skilled and resilient agricultural workforce across regional Queensland. 

The Crisafulli Government is delivering new training opportunities to boost Queensland’s regional workforce and help grow Queensland’s primary industries sector to a $30 billion powerhouse by 2030. 

A new fund has been established to back projects which will boost productivity, resilience and economic growth in agriculture and other targeted primary industries sectors. 

The $3 million Primary Industries Fund will enable industry to train new workers while offering existing workers opportunities to reskill and upskill to advance their careers.  

It will form part of the expanded Industry Skills Solutions which is already benefiting sectors like aged care, construction and early childhood education and care, as well as increasing the number of women working in non-traditional industries. 

Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise (TSBE) has been chosen as the first recipient of funding under the new initiative, with its RealTime Ag project aimed at increasing regional workforce participation and improving long term retention of agricultural workers in the Darling Downs region. 

It is also designed to help businesses capitalise on new technologies and position the Darling Downs as the national benchmark for agricultural workforce innovation. 

Minister for Finance, Trade, Employment and Training Ros Bates said the Industry Skills Solutions program helps Queensland’s priority industries innovate and leverage opportunities. 

“Labor’s decade of decline created a dire skills shortage, and while there is still a lot of work to do, we have seen a lot of progress made to bridge those gaps under the Crisafulli Government,” Minister Bates said. 

“We will continue to back projects including through this new Primary Industries Fund to ensure that farmers and workers have the skills they need to succeed.

“This fund will empower industry to meet the workforce challenges left behind by the former Labor government.

“The Crisafulli Government is delivering on its election commitment to create a skilled and resilient agricultural workforce across regional Queensland and train the pipeline of skilled workers Queensland needs.” 

Minister for Primary Industries Tony Perrett said skills and training initiatives were key to the future success of primary industries in Queensland.  

“Food, fibre and agriculture industries need skilled people to help grow and harvest our sustainable world-class produce, this investment shows the Crisafulli Government is serious about developing a skilled workforce for primary industries,” Minister Perrett said.  

“During Labor’s decade of decline, Queensland’s network of rural based agricultural training colleges were callously closed with no solution for addressing skills shortages in primary industries.  

“We set an ambitious target to grow the value of primary production to $30 billion by 2030, and we cannot reach our potential without a skilled workforce of farmers, fishers and foresters.” 

Member for Toowoomba North Trevor Watts said the investment recognised the important role Toowoomba and the Darling Downs play in Queensland’s future.

“This $3 million Primary Industries Fund is exactly what our region needs, and I’m proud to see TSBE at the heart of it — Toowoomba and the Darling Downs have always been the engine room of Queensland agriculture, and a skilled local workforce means stronger businesses and a stronger economy for everyone.”

“Toowoomba is no longer just a regional city, we are an Olympic city, and this investment through TSBE creates sustainable growth and opportunity across South West Queensland. I look forward to seeing this training deliver real jobs, stronger communities and the thriving future our region deserves.”

Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise General Manager – Food Leaders Australia Rowena Beveridge said RealTime Ag was an exciting prospect for the industry and the region. 

“The future of agriculture depends on attracting people who understand the scale, sophistication and purpose of the sector. This project will ensure students see agriculture as a career that can genuinely shape the future of food and fibre, sustainability and global importance,” Ms Beveridge said. 

“TSBE is excited to lead this project and are uniquely positioned to deliver it. By bringing industry, education and government together, we’re ensuring training reflects current industry needs that create lasting outcomes for regional Australia.” 

This initiative is an action of the Queensland Government’s Primary Industries Prosper 2050, a 25-year blueprint for Queensland’s primary industries. 

For more information on the Industry Skills Solutions program visit dtet.qld.gov.au/industry-skills-solutions.   

For more information on Prosper 2050 visit prosper2050.qld.gov.au