Resources future projects pipeline key to jobs growth

THE Queensland Resources Council (QRC) said securing a long-term pipeline of new resources projects would be essential for Queensland to make further inroads into bringing down the state’s unemployment rate.

QRC chief executive Ian Macfarlane said the release of the latest ABS figures showed Queensland’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 6.0 percent in January, just a minor decrease from 6.1 percent in December.

“We want to help bring that unemployment rate down further, and in particular to help create new jobs in regional communities such as Townsville, where the unemployment rate is higher than the state average,” Mr Macfarlane said.

“The resources sector has the track record of delivering jobs.  The sector supports the jobs of more than 316,000 Queenslanders across the state, both in direct resources jobs and in associated industries.

“Over the last year the resources sector has added more than 10,000 new jobs – or a job every 40 minutes.

“There are more opportunities too, with online job search tool Seek currently advertising around 1250 vacancies for mining, resources and energy jobs in Queensland.

“Our sector is continuing to work alongside the tourism and agriculture industries, and in particular we are proud to lend a hand to the regional communities doing it tough first through the recent drought and now during the flood recovery.

“We want to keep employing more Queenslanders and supporting more regional communities through local investment.

“To do that, it’s essential that we have clear and transparent rules and regulations. 

“There is so much potential through our powerhouse commodities of coal and gas, as well as great potential in new markets for the critical minerals the Australian Government is supporting via CRC project investment, and in the North West Minerals Province which the State Government has prioritised.

“The potential for resources investment in Queensland is vast and lucrative. 

“We must ensure we have the best framework for investors to be confident that Queensland is the right place to invest and create new jobs.”

www.qrc.org.au

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