QRC-government plan to grow resources sector could yield Keppel a billion-dollar boost

6 November 2020

The Queensland Resources Council says the Queensland Resources Industry Development Plan agreed to by the re-elected Palaszczuk government aims to increase the sector’s economic contribution across the state, including in the Central Queensland electorate of Keppel.

QRC Chief Executive Ian Macfarlane, who met with the re-elected Member for Keppel Brittany Lauga in Brisbane today, said resources contributed $973 million to the Keppel electorate in economic activity, sustained 5660 direct and indirect jobs, and supported 216 local businesses and 14 community organisations.

“The Queensland Resources Industry Development Plan that Treasurer Cameron Dick and I announced before the election has comprehensive terms of reference, including targets for growth,” Mr Macfarlane said.

“A good target for Keppel would be to increase the contribution of the resources sector to more than $1 billion in that region next financial year.”

Mr Macfarlane said the resources sector’s economic contribution had increased significantly in Keppel over the past five years.

In 2015-16, Ms Lauga’s first year as Member for Keppel, the sector contributed $543 million and sustained 4057 full-time equivalent jobs. This increased to $821 million and 4814 full time equivalent jobs in 2018-19.

“The growth in economic contribution and jobs in the past financial year, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, is testament to the importance of the resources sector and the sheer hard work of the men and women working in or because of the mining and gas industries,” Mr Macfarlane said.

‘Read more about the Queensland Government-QRC announcement of the Queensland Resource Industry Development Plan “Backing Queensland’s Mining Sector” here.

Click here for the contribution of the resources sector to the Keppel electorate.

Click here for a photo of Member for Keppel Brittany Lauga with Ian Macfarlane

Media contact: Caroline Morrissey 0417 770 893