QRC welcomes appointment of Resources Minister Keith Pitt

THE Queensland Resources Council (QRC) has welcomed the appointment of Keith Pitt as the Minister for Resources, Water and Northern Australia.

QRC chief executive Ian Macfarlane said it was good news for the resources sector to see another Queenslander taking on the important economic portfolio.

“The resources sector is at the heart of the Australian economy, and that is especially so in Queensland where it supports one in every seven jobs and generates one in every five dollars,” Mr Macfarlane said.

“Keith Pitt has a reputation for straight-talking and as a regional Queenslander he knows first-hand about the importance of the resources sector to create jobs and investment in regional communities.

“He also has a strong understanding of the policy issues that relate to the resources sector, in particular the need for affordable and reliable energy," he said.

“QRC looks forward to the new Minister building on the substantial policy work of his predecessor Senator Matt Canavan, especially in the areas of maintaining Queensland’s role as a resources powerhouse through our coal, gas and minerals sectors. 

“We are also keen to see the ongoing development of the critical minerals strategy where Queensland has an important role to play in the development of renewable energy minerals such as cobalt, nickel, rare earths, vanadium and manganese, and advanced technology minerals such as rare earths, scandium, tungsten and molybdenum.

“Queensland has led the way in the development of sustainable investment, especially in our gas industry which powers the East Coast gas market. 

“QRC looks forward to meeting with the incoming Minister to further discuss the policy developments that can encourage new and future investment and create new jobs.”

www.qrc.org.au

 

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