The National Tribune
The National Tribune
The National Tribune
- Politics
- 6 Nov 2026 9:33 am AESTDate Time
Minister for Customer Services and Open Data and Minister for Small and Family Business The Honourable Steve Minnikin
- The Crisafulli Government is delivering the $8.8 million Construction Business Advancement Grant program to help small business spend less time on the books and more time growing their business.
- Eligible small construction businesses including sole traders can now apply for up to $5,000 to upgrade business or accounting software and access training.
- The Crisafulli Government is delivering better services through a stronger economy after a decade of decline under Labor, by backing small construction businesses with practical tools to improve productivity and strengthen operations.
Hundreds of small construction businesses including sole traders will benefit from a new grant that will help them improve productivity and strengthen their operations so they can spend more time building the homes and infrastructure Queensland needs.
Under the Crisafulli Government’s plan to deliver better services through a stronger economy, eligible small construction businesses including sole traders can apply for grants of up to $5,000 through the Construction Business Advancement Grant program.
The program ends a decade of decline where Labor left Queensland with a housing crisis and a construction industry weighed down by unnecessary costs.
Under the program, small construction businesses can purchase new or upgraded business and accounting software and undertake training to support its implementation and boost productivity.
The Crisafulli Government is delivering on the election commitment to help small business improve day-to-day processes, better manage business finances, gain better business insights and reduce administrative pressure.
Applicants must receive grant approval before purchasing, subscribing to or entering into a binding commitment for eligible software or training.
Applying for a Construction Business Advancement Grant is straightforward with access to more than 60 suppliers currently listed in one catalogue, offering business productivity, financial management, compliance and construction-specific software for tasks such as estimating and workforce scheduling.
Business software and training providers can also submit an expression of interest to have their products assessed against the program guidelines and added to the catalogue of options available to grant recipients.
Applicants can also request software not already on the catalogue for review and inclusion.
The construction industry accounts for more than 17 per cent of Queensland’s small businesses, making it the state’s largest small business industry sector.
Minister for Small and Family Business Steve Minnikin said the new grant would help small construction businesses build capability, improve productivity and position themselves to capture opportunities arising from Queensland’s significant infrastructure pipeline.
“Queensland’s small construction businesses and sole traders do a huge amount of work to keep our economy moving, and this grant will help them access the tools and training they need to run their businesses more productively and efficiently,” Minister Minnikin said.
“The Construction Business Advancement Grant will help small business upgrade their software and build their skills, so they can spend less time managing paperwork and more time growing their business.
“This is practical support that helps tradies spend less time behind a desk and more time on the tools, doing what they do best.
“We know small business owners are busy, which is why this program has been designed to make applying straightforward, with a catalogue of options that allows them to quickly assess what best suits their business and get on with the job.”
Master Builders Queensland’s Sunshine Coast Regional Manager Nicola Scott said the grant would help small construction businesses invest in the tools they need to succeed.
“Queensland’s construction industry accounts for the lion’s share of the State’s small businesses and sole traders. Initiatives like this can make a real difference by helping them adopt more modern systems to improve productivity and cut down on administration,” Ms Scott said.
“As our industry tackles a generational pipeline of work, we applaud measures that help reduce red tape and allow our workforce to get on with delivering projects.
“This grant will support stronger businesses, a stronger construction sector – and ultimately, a stronger Queensland economy.”
Applications open on 6 November 2026 and will close on 7 May 2027, unless the allocated funding is exhausted earlier.
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