Published Friday, 21 March, 2008 at 12:00 PM
Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
Regional Seaports are Major Economic Contributors
The value of Queensland’s extensive network of seaports has been highlighted in an economic impact study released today.
The new study has found Ports Corporation of Queensland (PCQ) seaports are major contributors to the Queensland economy, generating almost 4,400 jobs and contributing $1.14 billion to regional economies in the past financial year, equivalent to about .03% of gross state product.
PCQ seaports also generate over $230 million in household income and an estimated 4,368 jobs (fulltime equivalent) or .02% of total employment in Queensland.
Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations, John Mickel, said the PCQ study has quantified the significant contribution made by PCQ ports to the regional, State and national economy.
"In the past five years, there has been a 58% increase in the ports’ contributions to Queensland's economy and a 36% increase in jobs generated," Mr Mickel said.
"Our regional ports generate widespread benefits that underpin a large proportion of Queensland’s export trade."
“PCQ is one of Australia’s largest port authorities by tonnage throughput and more than half of Queensland’s exports, by tonnage, pass through its ports. In the past financial year, throughput for all ports totalled 121.1 million tonnes.”
Mr Mickel said the study emphasised the widespread benefits regional ports generated by facilitating a large portion of Queensland’s export trade.
PCQ port contributions to the economy in 2006-07 were:
• Hay Point - $666 million, 2,592 jobs generated (direct and indirect)
• Abbot Point- $154 million, 525 jobs
• Lucinda - $34.4 million, 135 jobs
• Mourilyan - $42.9 million, 169 jobs
• Cape Flattery - $15.4 million, 66 jobs
• Thursday Island - $23.2 million, 86 jobs
• Weipa - $124.4 million, 478 jobs
• Karumba - $80.9 million, 315 jobs
The PCQ ports ship a range of bulk commodities including coal, sugar, molasses, silica sand, bauxite, zinc, live cattle and general cargo.
Mr Mickel said the study showed PCQ ports are a lifeblood of numerous regional communities.
“Their economic impact extends far beyond the waterfront and into every Queensland city and town with almost $230 million going to Queensland families through pay packets from port-related jobs at these ports alone.”
The EIS found the economic impact of the eight PCQ ports included in the study totalled $575 million of direct economic input and $565 million in flow-on effects.
The ports generated 1,811 jobs through direct full-time employment in port-related businesses and another 2,557 in sectors including finance and business, wholesale and retail trade and manufacturing.
There were 1,951 commercial cargo ship visits during the year to the eight ports.
Mr Mickel said there had been a 58% increase in contributions to the Queensland economy and a 36% increase in jobs generated compared to a previous EIS which was prepared in 2001-02.
The EIS was conducted by economic research group EconSearch using a recognised Bureau of Transport Economics model which assesses the economic impact of ports.
A full copy of the EIS can be accessed at www.pcq.com.au.
Ministerial contact: Chris Brown 3237 1944
Further information: Ports Corporation of Queensland General Manager Corporate Relations and Operations Gary Campbell : 07 3224 4346
March 21, 2008
The new study has found Ports Corporation of Queensland (PCQ) seaports are major contributors to the Queensland economy, generating almost 4,400 jobs and contributing $1.14 billion to regional economies in the past financial year, equivalent to about .03% of gross state product.
PCQ seaports also generate over $230 million in household income and an estimated 4,368 jobs (fulltime equivalent) or .02% of total employment in Queensland.
Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations, John Mickel, said the PCQ study has quantified the significant contribution made by PCQ ports to the regional, State and national economy.
"In the past five years, there has been a 58% increase in the ports’ contributions to Queensland's economy and a 36% increase in jobs generated," Mr Mickel said.
"Our regional ports generate widespread benefits that underpin a large proportion of Queensland’s export trade."
“PCQ is one of Australia’s largest port authorities by tonnage throughput and more than half of Queensland’s exports, by tonnage, pass through its ports. In the past financial year, throughput for all ports totalled 121.1 million tonnes.”
Mr Mickel said the study emphasised the widespread benefits regional ports generated by facilitating a large portion of Queensland’s export trade.
PCQ port contributions to the economy in 2006-07 were:
• Hay Point - $666 million, 2,592 jobs generated (direct and indirect)
• Abbot Point- $154 million, 525 jobs
• Lucinda - $34.4 million, 135 jobs
• Mourilyan - $42.9 million, 169 jobs
• Cape Flattery - $15.4 million, 66 jobs
• Thursday Island - $23.2 million, 86 jobs
• Weipa - $124.4 million, 478 jobs
• Karumba - $80.9 million, 315 jobs
The PCQ ports ship a range of bulk commodities including coal, sugar, molasses, silica sand, bauxite, zinc, live cattle and general cargo.
Mr Mickel said the study showed PCQ ports are a lifeblood of numerous regional communities.
“Their economic impact extends far beyond the waterfront and into every Queensland city and town with almost $230 million going to Queensland families through pay packets from port-related jobs at these ports alone.”
The EIS found the economic impact of the eight PCQ ports included in the study totalled $575 million of direct economic input and $565 million in flow-on effects.
The ports generated 1,811 jobs through direct full-time employment in port-related businesses and another 2,557 in sectors including finance and business, wholesale and retail trade and manufacturing.
There were 1,951 commercial cargo ship visits during the year to the eight ports.
Mr Mickel said there had been a 58% increase in contributions to the Queensland economy and a 36% increase in jobs generated compared to a previous EIS which was prepared in 2001-02.
The EIS was conducted by economic research group EconSearch using a recognised Bureau of Transport Economics model which assesses the economic impact of ports.
A full copy of the EIS can be accessed at www.pcq.com.au.
Ministerial contact: Chris Brown 3237 1944
Further information: Ports Corporation of Queensland General Manager Corporate Relations and Operations Gary Campbell : 07 3224 4346
March 21, 2008