End to sand mining makes it trifecta of pain for resources - QRC

IN PASSING a government bill to end sand mining on North Stradbroke Island in 2019, the Queensland Parliament has delivered a trifecta of pain for the state’s resources sector, according to a statement from Queensland Resources Council (QRC).

"In a mere five weeks the Parliament has backed the Palaszczuk Government’s ill-conceived Chain of Responsibility law which has sent shockwaves through industry and it has created open slather for objections in the courts to mining projects, even allowing people or entities in foreign countries to object to a Queensland mining project," QRC chief executive Michael Roche said.

"To cap it off, the Parliament has backed the government’s bill to close sand mining operations with the loss of up to 153 full time jobs in Sibelco’s mineral sands business.

"There will also be a severe flow-on effect with hundreds more contractors and businesses that rely on the Sibelco mine on the island also greatly impacted. 

"Premature closure of the mine and an inadequate economic transition strategy will be a sure recipe for a social and economic disaster for the Stradbroke Island community.

"At a time when the mining sector is under extreme pressure and losing jobs, Queensland cannot afford the luxury of pandering to minority pressure group demands to shut down a mining operation that has proved to be one of the most responsible, productive and durable in the state.

"The reality is that the evidence from elsewhere in Australia proves that economic diversification and transition from an existing major industry in a community is a long-term process.

"It takes many years to be self-sustaining and requires a far bigger transition package than the proposed $20 million. QRC notes that in the state budget, only $2.5 million was allocated to this package before mid-2017.

"Mineral products from Stradbroke Island are exported around the world and are used for a wide range of everyday items with high quality silica used in glass for bottles and windscreens, plasma TV screens and solar panels."

www.qrc.org.au

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