Strong plan to supercharge the resources sector

Queensland’s resources sector will be supercharged for 30 years of job-creating growth thanks to a new plan unveiled by Premier Campbell Newman.

Mr Newman said the ResourcesQ action plan would make Queensland a world leader in the resources industry – driving economic growth, developing the regions and creating new jobs for decades to come.

“We’ve looked beyond the short-term to create a strong plan that will deliver a successful, competitive and growing resources industry for this generation of Queenslanders and the next,” Mr Newman said.

“Mining employs more than 400,000 Queenslanders, directly or indirectly, and this plan will create thousands more mining jobs for families across our state.

“The sector generates $80 billion a year for Queensland to fund schools, hospitals, roads and infrastructure – yet Labor has no policies to support mining and grow that revenue.

“Only the LNP Government has a strong plan to create a bright future for this industry and its workers.”

The 30-year ResourcesQ action plan was developed in partnership with the resources sector and launched at the Queensland Resources Council (QRC) annual lunch in Brisbane.

The Newman LNP Government and QRC will each provide $1 million this year to fund the plan’s key actions, which include:

• creating “one window” for State Government departments to provide a coordinated and streamlined service for resource project development
• implementing investment attraction activities and providing a single point of contact for potential investors
• hosting a ResourcesQ investment summit to showcase Queensland’s resources sector to the world
• reviewing the mining, equipment, technology and services sector to identify and address supply chain gaps
• providing a State of the Industry Report every two years to report on progress
• developing regional resources industry development plans to identify new opportunities

Mines Minister Andrew Cripps said the plan gave Queensland’s resources sector a bright future.

“This blueprint not only promotes Queensland as being open for business, but sets out a framework to strengthen this key economic pillar over the next three decades,” Mr Cripps said.

QRC chief executive Michael Roche said the council’s members strongly supported the plan.

“We will demonstrate that with a $1 million contribution in 2014-15 to the ResourcesQ community engagement component,” Mr Roche said.

“We see this as a prime investment leading into a period of expanding opportunity for the state’s minerals and energy exporters.”

The full ResourcesQ 30-year vision and action plan is available at www.dnrm.gov.au/resourcesq.

[ENDS] 28 November 2014

Media contacts: Kate Haddan (Minister Cripps) 0418 373 516, Premier’s Office 3719 7000.