PERTH (miningweekly.com) – The Queensland Resources Council (QRC) on Friday outlined a six-point plan which it said would ensure the Queensland resources sector was globally competitive and well positioned to take advantage of the next upturn in demand.

QRC CEO Michael Roche told an industry lunch that under the six-point plan, federal and state governments had to close legal loopholes to limit the “disrupt and delay” tactics being used by environmental activists, and must ensure that infrastructure such as rail and port capacity was improved to keep pace with current and future demand.

Roche said Queensland also had to ensure its land tenure system was efficient, predictable and user-friendly and that governments must reduce costs owing to red tape and require from companies realistic amounts in rehabilitation bonds.

The plan also included stability and certainty for resource royalties, which Roche said must extend beyond the current term of the Queensland Parliament, while industry would have to ensure they continue to keep their own costs under control to remain globally competitive.

“Royalty stability is on our must-have list from government in the interests of long-term investment in Queensland,” Roche said on Friday.

He further said that industry should be working closely with all governments to overcome or reduce the impacts of legal and regulatory impediments for resource projects.

Roche has, meanwhile, welcomed comments by Natural Resources and Mines Minister Dr Anthony Lynham that the state government was examining ways to speed up the approvals and Land Court process.

Pointing to case studies on how environmental activist groups were successfully using every opportunity under state and federal laws to block significant investment in the resources sector, Roche said he was throwing out the challenge to state and federal governments to act to ensure that these blocking tactics did not become the new normal for resource projects.