The Queensland Resources Council (QRC) has welcomed the LNP’s commitment to unlock the North West Minerals Province to fast-track projects, investment and jobs with the appointment of a dedicated Deputy Coordinator-General.
QRC Chief Executive Ian Macfarlane said the LNP has responded to the QRC’s request for the role to be created to address the constraints identified in reviews into the future development of the North West Minerals Province.
The request was contained in a joint QRC and Association of Mining and Exploration Companies’ Resources Industry Recovery Agenda.
“Queensland has globally-significant reserves of copper, nickel, zinc, graphite, and molybdenum and major deposits of cobalt, rhenium, scandium, tantalum, niobium, lithium, rare earths and vanadium,” Mr Macfarlane said.
“The development of the North West Minerals Province will put Queensland ahead in terms of providing the critical minerals for battery and renewable technologies and advanced manufacturing.
“The North West Minerals Province will not only deliver for Townsville and the North, but for Australia with the insatiable global demand for these minerals.”
Last year, QRC worked with the Queensland Government on the development of its $13.8 million five-year package to encourage new discoveries of critical minerals to attract more overseas investment, drive more international trade and create more local jobs and economic prosperity.
Mr Macfarlane said the LNP’s commitment today follows its earlier commitments to the QRC on behalf of the resources industry, including:
a 10-year freeze on resource royalty rates and thresholds
a faster approvals process, with key performance indicators tracked and published to restore industry confidence in the Queensland Government
$8 million for minerals exploration and a promise to cut crippling electricity costs faced by the mineral sector
support for the development of the CopperString 2.0 high voltage transmission line connecting the NWMP with the National Electricity Market in partnership with the Federal Government.
Click here to view the joint QRC-AMEC Resources Industry Recovery Agenda. A copy of the agenda was provided to all parties.
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