PERTH (miningweekly.com) – New research by Lawrence Consulting has shown that the natural gas industry has contributed some A$55-billion to Queensland’s economy over the last seven years.

The report found that nearly A$5-billion was spent on wages state-wide between 2011 and 2018, with the industry employing around 4 600 full-time employees.

'The Impact of Queensland’s Petroleum and Gas sector 2011-18' report also found that the industry spent around A$50-billion on goods and services from local community contributions and payments to local government as well as royalties, stamp duty and tax.

The Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association’s Queensland director, Georgy Mayo, said the study showed how vital the natural gas sector is for Queensland given the reporting period included a major downturn in the mining sector and a significant downturn in the global economy.

“The natural gas industry has propped up Queensland during a particularly tough time and it will continue to be a pillar of the economy for many decades to come,” Mayo said.

“Natural gas has also provided a huge boost to regional centres like Gladstone, Toowoomba, Roma, Dalby and Chinchilla.

“As we are in the midst of one of the worst droughts on record, the natural gas industry has also helped offset some of the hardship with jobs, economic development and providing a new source of water for landowners.”

The Shared Landscapes report released by the Queensland Gasfields Commission in August added to the picture painted in the Lawrence Consulting report, showing that A$78-million was paid by the industry to landholders in 2018/19.

The commission also shows almost all of the 66 000 mega litres of groundwater extracted by the industry is treated and beneficially reused.

“Queensland is leading the country in showing how natural gas and farming can succeed together and all Queenslanders are benefiting. The vision, leadership and bipartisan support shown by successive Queensland governments is the foundation for this success.

“The industry and regional gas communities are grateful for this support.”