PERTH (miningweekly.com) – The Queensland state government has introduced a landmark partnership with the state’s resources sector, aimed at driving economic growth and creating jobs.

“My government committed at the 2012 election to grow resources as one of Queensland’s four economic pillars. This agreement builds on the ResourcesQ initiative, which will create a 30-year vision and action plan for Queensland, ” Premier Campbell Newman said.

“It will deliver a strong plan to ensure that Queensland’s resources industry is supported for decades to come.”

Key elements of the agreement included a new Resources Skills Centre of Excellence and a government ‘one-stop-shop’ for the resource industry.

“Our partnership is now cemented by the ResourcesQ partnership agreement, which we signed with the Queensland Resources Council, the Association of Mining and Exploration Companies (Amec), and the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association.”

Natural Resources and Mines Minister Andrew Cripps said the agreement identified a joint initiative between industry and government to make Queensland a global hub for skills and innovation in the resources sector.

“We need to develop and grow Queensland into a world-leading mining jurisdiction, and we plan to do so by examining the options to develop a Resources Skills Centre of Excellence,” Cripps said.

The centre would act as a global hub to coordinate, plan, facilitate, promote, lead and deliver resources sector skilling and innovation in partnership with education and training providers.

“We will also look at including resource industry skills in the school curriculum and the possibility of a flagship school in Brisbane that builds on the role of the existing Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy,” Cripps said.

“The agreement will allow us to create a governmental one-stop-shop to provide resources companies and potential investors with a single contact point for information.

“Queensland is open for business, and we want to make sure we are the most attractive place for industry to operate in Australia.”

Amec regional manager Bernie Hogan said that it was encouraging that the Queensland government had taken its commitment to work with industry to the next level with the signing of this partnership agreement.

“The dual focus of the immediate action agenda and the 30-year vision for the sector means that we are addressing the actions we need to get under way now, while also having our eye on the horizon to be prepared for future challenges and opportunities.”