Big budget bottom line to resource Queensland’s recovery

QUEENSLAND’s resources sector welcomed today’s budget, congratulating Treasurer Cameron Dick on mapping out Queensland’s long road to recovery.

"Creating more Queensland jobs is exactly the right objective for this budget and this will be helped by the fact our resources sector is on the verge of becoming  an energy and resources superpower," Queensland Resources Council chief executive Ian Macfarlane said.

"COVID-19 has been a hammer blow to everyone’s Budget – households, businesses and governments," he said.

"The state Budget shows the resources sector will be needed more than ever in the COVID recovery.

"Our sector will be needed for jobs, for exports, for investment and ultimately for government revenue."

The Budget papers show the dual blows to the resources sector – in volumes and prices – has reduced royalties by 45 percent this financial year.

The budget forecasts a $4 billion cumulative reduction in royalties over the next four years.

"However, the resources sector shares the Treasurer’s firm confidence that it will rebound,” Mr Macfarlane said.

"That’s why we welcome the announcement of a $200 million Future Skills Fund and the government’s commitment to work with our sector on the implementation of a first ever Queensland Resources Industry Development Plan.

"Queensland can transition to a global energy superpower thanks to the quality of our coal and gas reserves and abundant renewable opportunities.”  Mr Macfarlane said.

"The next stage of development is deploying the world-class expertise of Queensland’s resources industries to work to secure all the opportunities on offer as the state transitions to making renewable energy exports a reality.  

“The Palaszczuk government’s agreement to work with the QRC to deliver a Queensland Resources Development Plan will enable Queensland to work and earn our way out of COVID, supercharging Queensland’s economic recovery and delivering decades of responsible prosperity,” Mr Macfarlane said.

"Resources contributes one in every five dollars to the Queensland economy and one in six jobs, which is why our sector’s performance is so crucial to a strong COVID recovery.

“The royalty taxes contributed each year by resources companies help the Queensland Government pay for the nurses and doctors who care for our families, the teachers who educate our children, the police officers who keep us safe, and the hospitals, schools and roads we need for our communities to function,” he said.

“You can count on resources to help Queensland recover.”

www.qrc.org.au

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