Bauxite mine officially opens to boost economy in Far North Queensland

The economy of Cape York Peninsula has been boosted with the official opening of Rio Tinto’s Amrun bauxite mine, with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk describing it as a great day for the region and the state.

The Premier helped officially open the mine, with the $2.6 billion Amrun Project supporting hundreds of jobs across the Cape and injecting millions of dollars at a local, State and national level.

"Rio Tinto's Amrun bauxite mine and Weipa operations have secured more than 1300 jobs for the Cape, including 349 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people - as well as jobs at Rio Tinto's Gladstone refinery," the Premier said.

“This is a great day for the entire region, and my Government will continue to support the resources sector.

The Amrun Project and all of Rio Tinto’s operations in Weipa and the surrounding area are also a testament to the outstanding relationship between the firm and the Traditional Owners of the western cape region.”

Mines Minister Anthony Lynham said the resources industry directly employs more than 66,000 Queenslanders with thousands more employed in support industries.

“We know our massive resources is supporting our flourishing Queensland economy and helping to drive our great State towards a brighter future, which is why we’re proud to work with Rio Tinto,” Dr Lynham said.

“Queensland is the largest global exporter of metallurgical coal, and one of the world’s largest producers of bauxite, zinc, lead and LNG because my Government invests in and supports our resources sector.”

“We’re driving this upturn in revenue generation because it supports employment, schools, hospitals, roads and our infrastructure across Queensland,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

For more information, visit www.dnrme.qld.gov.au

ENDS

Media Contact:             Chris O’Brien 0419 774 004