Coal Roundtable Sets Course for Smarter, Faster Exports

• Crisafulli Government leads charge to improve coal freight efficiency and unlock billions in exports.
• Industry and government join forces to reduce red tape and boost supply chain performance.
• Roundtable focuses on maximising Queensland’s coal export capacity to support regional jobs and trade opportunities.

The Crisafulli Government is delivering on its commitment to reduce barriers to Queensland’s trade opportunities by tackling bottlenecks holding back one of the State’s most valuable export sectors.

Minister for Finance, Trade, Employment and Training, Ros Bates, and Minister for Natural Resources and Mines, Dale Last, hosted a high-level Coal Supply Chain Roundtable in Brisbane, bringing together leaders from across the coal export network to drive practical solutions and unlock billions in stalled export capacity.

Despite having more than 300 million tonnes of port capacity, Queensland exported less than 200 million tonnes in 2023–24.

The Crisafulli Government is determined to reduce that gap, supercharge regional economies, and strengthen ties with our major coal trading partners, including India, Japan, China, and South Korea.

Roundtable attendees included senior leaders from key industry stakeholders and other Government representatives.

Key topics on the agenda included:

• Infrastructure and regulatory barriers
• Port slot allocation and stockpile management
• Weather resilience and operational coordination

The roundtable is part of the Crisafulli Government’s broader strategy to strengthen trade infrastructure, grow regional jobs, restore Queensland’s global competitiveness, and demonstrate that under this Government, Queensland is open for business.

Minister Bates said the meeting focused on unlocking the full potential of Queensland’s coal infrastructure and ensuring the State remained a global leader in resource exports.

“Queensland’s world-class coal is in high demand, but outdated bottlenecks are holding us back,” Minister Bates said.

“This roundtable was about working toward cutting red tape, boosting throughput, and ensuring our supply chain works as hard as the Queenslanders behind it.

“This includes supporting the work of our government-owned coal ports to drive efficiencies through cooperation with private sector industry partners.

“Unlike Labor, which was afraid to say the word ‘coal’ and damaged investment and trade relations with its hostility toward the sector, the Crisafulli Government is proud to support our coal industry and the regional communities that rely on its continued success.”

Minister for Natural Resources and Mines Dale Last said improving efficiencies in the coal supply chain was a key priority for the Resources Cabinet Committee.

“The Resources Cabinet Committee is already progressing reforms to streamline approvals and ensure that regulatory frameworks from pit to port are working in sync,” Minister Last said.

“Today’s roundtable builds on that work by ensuring our infrastructure delivers on its full potential.

“This is about supporting jobs in regional Queensland by delivering trade certainty for our export partners and sending a message to global investors that Queensland is open for business.”

Media contact: Christian Penny 0439 882 294