PERTH (miningweekly.com) – The Queensland Resources Council (QRC) has urged the state government to take a leaf out of the Western Australian government’s playbook to ensure its economic revival.
The urging comes after the Western Australian state government over the weekend unveiled a A$5.5-billion economic recovery plan to boost economic and social recovery, and to create a pipeline of local jobs.
The plan includes a A$66-million boost for renewable energy technologies to reduce costs and create job, A$60.3-million towards a Green Jobs Plan to support environmental and conservation projects, a ‘major’ shovel-ready maintenance blitz to get local tradespeople working, support for tourism, local manufacturing, construction and renewable technologies, and a huge investment in infrastructure, schools, tertiary education and community facilities.
“The Western Australian recovery plan will help drive the economic and social recovery across the State, to ensure we can recover, stronger than ever.
"This comprehensive plan is unlike anything we've ever seen before in Western Australia. It will deliver a pipeline of short and long-term jobs for Western Australians, supporting and strengthening our existing industries, as well as laying the foundation for jobs of the future,” said Premier Mark McGowan.
The QRC on Monday urged the Queensland government to mirror key plans of the Western Australian recovery plan, with CEO Ian Macfarlane saying that the recovery plan had adopted several recommendations made by the QRC to support economic recovery.
“The resources industry in Queensland, like Western Australia, has been one of the very few sectors to keep our Queenslanders working and earning. We have kept the lights on during one of the darkest periods in Queensland’s history,” Macfarlane said.
“Like the industry in Western Australia, the Queensland resources sector needs the state government to help kick-start new projects with support for exploration, reduced assessment timeframes and exemption for affected mining tenement holders.”
In response to QRC’s 40-point Resource Industry Recovery Agenda, the Queensland government has increased funding for the Collaborative Exploration Initiative by A$10-million.
“For the resources sector to do more, we need the Queensland government to do more,” Macfarlane said.