As part of the Queensland Government’s Unite and Recover Economic Recovery Strategy, Treasurer Cameron Dick has committed a re-elected Palaszczuk Government to the delivery of a Queensland Resources Industry Development Plan.
Whilst visiting Ziggy’s CQ Engineering in Mackay with Assistant Minister for Treasury and Member for Mackay Julieanne Gilbert today, the Treasurer said the plan would leverage Queensland’s natural resources, vibrant mining communities and common user infrastructure to ensure a strong sector for years to come.
“Regional development is one of six key areas of our state economic recovery plan,” he said.
“Vibrant regional economies are critical to rebuilding strength of the Queensland economy, and our state’s resources and mining industries are central to the vibrancy of regional economies.”
“Our state’s resources and mining industries have led the economic fight back against COVID-19, and they will help us rebuild the Queensland economy from the impacts of the pandemic in the years to come.”
The Treasurer said the Queensland Resources Industry Development Plan will help remove barriers to growth and be grounded in actions to help regional communities recover from COVID-19.
“While we will consult widely on the specifics of the plan, our key focus will be on:
- Targets for industry growth;
- Responsibly unlocking resources;
- Capitalising on opportunities from clean energy to lower power costs;
- Ways to assist explorers discover the next deposits, through future rounds of the existing Collaborative Exploration Initiative;
- Opportunities to continue advanced processing of resources in Queensland;
- Opportunities to grow the Mining Equipment, Technology and Services (METS) sector in accordance of the Government’s 10-year METS Roadmap and Action Plan;
- Ensuring best practice environmental protections and rehabilitation, based on the landmark financial provisioning laws and the continuation of the abandoned mines program;
- Working with communities to maximise the resources sector’s contribution to its economic and social wellbeing;
- Review regulatory processes to ensure they are streamlined and any regulatory change of material impact will be subject to a 12-week consultation process and consistent with the Government’s Office of Best Practice Regulation Guidelines; and
- Facilitating access to our network of common user ports, rail lines and electricity infrastructure.”
The Treasurer said the resources sector will be a key element of the Queensland economy for decades to come.
“We owe it to the tens of thousands of Queenslanders who work in the resources sector and the businesses large and small that employ them to work together on providing a clear path forward for the sector.”
The Treasurer also announced the inaugural members of the Advisory Committee for the $100 million Resources Community Infrastructure Fund.
“Together with the Queensland Resources Council (QRC) we’ve assembled the right mix of skills, experience and representation to ensure the needs of resources communities across the state will be properly assessed when making funding decisions,” he said.
“Committee members have a broad mix of skills and experience in mining logistics, regional, remote and indigenous communities, regional and remote health and public administration.”
“With the backing of industry contributing $70 million and the State contributing $30 million over the life of the Fund, there will be $100 million available to support additional community infrastructure investment across Queensland’s resource communities.”
QRC Chief Executive Ian Macfarlane said the QRC is looking for the Plan to provide more certainty to the resources sector, workers and businesses.
“More certainty around government policy and a more streamlined assessment and approval process for projects will give our sector the confidence to invest more, employ more and export more.”
Moreover, today the Treasurer also released Queensland Treasury’s Study of Long-Term Global Coal Demand.
The Treasurer said the study confirms that international demand, particularly in Queensland’s key export markets of China, India, Japan and Korea will support Queensland’s mining industry over coming decades.
“We know that the quality of Queensland’s coal makes it one of the most valuable commodities across the world, and our geographic location – along with our port and export infrastructure – provides a key competitive advantage.”
Resources Community Infrastructure Fund advisory committee
Resource Community Representatives
Fiona Jose, CEO of Cape York Partnership.
Tony Mooney AM, a former Mayor of Townsville and current Chair of the Townsville Hospital and Health Board and Director of Tropical Australian Academic Health Centre.
Jane Williams is the Chair of the Central West Hospital and Health Board and a Wellness Nurse at the Barcaldine Medical Centre.
Participating Mineral Resource Industry Parties Representatives
Melissa Johnson, General Manager, Hay Point Coal Terminal.
Leah Morgan, Specialist Corporate Affairs, South32.
Anthony Pitt, Director Logistics and Procurement, Glencore Coal Assets Australia.
Jess Roberson, General Manager People and Public Relations, Kestrel Coal Resources.
State representatives
Michael McKee, Deputy Director-General, Department of State Development, Tourism and Innovation.
Natalie Wilde, Deputy Director-General, Local Government Division, Department of Local Government, Racing and Multicultural Affairs.
