Palaszczuk Government to lure international biofuels investment to Queensland

The Palaszczuk Government will target Australian and international biofutures investment to help boost the industry in regional Queensland.

Speaking in Parliament today, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced that an Expression of Interest process to attract biofuels proponents to Queensland would start tomorrow.

“We know if we want to unlock the jobs of tomorrow, we can’t just sit back and let it happen,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“That’s why we’re working incredibly hard to create a biofutures industry in this state.

“We have established a partnership with the US Navy – potentially the biggest biofuels customer in the world and the only partnership of its kind with a state government anywhere in the world.

“And we’ve already attracted Southern Oil to develop a refinery in Gladstone.

“But there’s more work to be done and more opportunities to grasp.

“That’s why my Government is starting an international call for Expressions of Interest to develop biorefineries in regional Queensland.

“The EOI process for Queensland, Australian and international investors will start within days.

“We want to attract proponents with big ideas and big plans to help take Queensland’s biofutures industries to the next level and support jobs growth in our regions.”

Ms Palaszczuk said the Government would aim to attract investment from within Australia as well as the United States, Asia, Brazil and Canada.

“We know there is significant interest in investing in Queensland,” she said

“A recent month-long Request for Information period drew 26 responses from Australian and international companies.

 “Responses came from a broad range of industries like aviation, waste management, biodiesel, surveying and town planning, stock feed manufacturing and biofuel development.

 “They’re interested in Queensland because we have the natural resources, we have geographic advantage, we are a technology leader, and we have a Government with the will to make it happen.”

 Information on how to submit and Expression of Interest will be on the Department of State Development website (www.statedevelopment.qld.gov.au/) from tomorrow.

Link to audio of the Premier's announcement

Media contact: Premier's office 3719 7000