Queensland resources strong going into COVID-19: survey

A SURVEY of Queensland’s resources leaders taken before the impacts of COVID-19 started to unfold found the sector was in a good standing to create an economic buffer in 2020.

Queensland Resources Council chief executive Ian Macfarlane said the State of the Sector report gave hope to the Queensland economy with the sector in a strong position to maintain production and employment.

"The QRC CEO Sentiment Survey in the report found 55 percent of QRC member CEOs expected to increase their workforce, with 20 percent expecting substantial increases of more than a quarter of their workforce (25 percent). Meanwhile, only 15 percent expected a decrease in their workforce over the same period," Mr Macfalrane said. 

“A lot has changed since this survey was taken and the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve, but what it does tell us is the resources sector was performing strongly with future employment intentions very strong.

“The resources sector is taking extraordinary measures to keep their staff, their communities and their state safe.

“QRC and our industry continues to work with all levels of government," he said. "Early on the National Cabinet led by Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk declared our industry as an ‘essential activity’.

“In relation to FIFO (fly-in-fly-out) operations, the Queensland resources sector is working with the State Government to implement protocols to assist with the separation of the community and FIFO workers while in transit. This will ensure the resources sector can continue to deliver its much needed economic benefits to the economy by producing commodities and employing people."

www.qrc.org.au

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