Regional communities to benefit from resources-backed vaccination roll-out

QUEENSLAND resources companies are putting their hands up to help roll out Covid-19 vaccinations in regional communities once vaccine supplies increase to a sufficient level.

The Queensland Resources Council (QRC) has been working with the Queensland and Australian governments, OQVOC (Office of the Queensland Vaccine Operations Coordinator), Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) and the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association (APPEA) to determine how members can help with transport, logistics, facilities and medical staff to fast-track a regional vaccination program.

QRC chief executive Ian Macfarlane said any regional vaccination program must offer Covid-19 vaccinations to people living in resources communities, and not just resources workers.

“The QRC said from the outset the resources sector will support government in any way we can to get people in regional areas vaccinated, whether they live in a regional area or work for a resources company,” he said.

“We’re all in this together, and we’ll get through this together.

“Our companies want everyone to be able to access vaccinations as soon as possible, whether it’s through local towns, vaccination hubs or on-site programs.”

Mr Macfarlane said the QRC had been gathering information from individual companies about how they could support the roll-out in practical terms once more vaccines become available.

“We will continue working with the State Government, Queensland Health’s Primary Health Networks and Hospitals, OQVOC, state-based vaccine delivery authorities and local councils to give regional Queenslanders faster access to vaccinations,” he said.

“Right through the Covid crisis, the health and safety of our employees and the regional communities in which we operate has always been our top priority.

“If we can go a step further to safeguard regional Queenslanders by supporting a regional vaccination roll-out, resources companies will do what they can to help out.”

 

About the QRC

The QRC is Queensland’s peak body for coal, metal and gas explorers, producers and suppliers across the resources sector. It contributes $1 in every $5 dollars to the state economy, supports one in six Queensland jobs, supports more than 15,000 businesses and contributes to more than 1,200 community organisations – all from 0.1 percent of Queensland’s land mass.

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