Overseas mission to put Qld resources ‘centre stage’

Natural Resources and Mines Minister Dale Last plans to 'fly the flag' for Queensland industry in a visit to the United States and Canada. Mr Last (pictured above) spoke at the Resources Roundup hosted by the Queensland Resources Council last night, where he noted that the election of US President Donald Trump had prompted a major realignment amongst capital markets and a renewed willingness to invest in traditional resource projects. "Next week I'm traveling to the United States, meeting with key players in Washington to seek investment opportunities for Queensland," he said. "It'd be nice if I ran across Trumpy and we had a yarn ... I can tell you I won't miss the opportunity if I do. "I'll also be attending the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada conference (in Toronto), the largest mining event in the world, putting Queensland centre stage and advocating for the many investment opportunities this state has develop. "We want to fly the flag. We should be proud of what we've got here in this state, and I'll be so proud to go over there and represent this state at that conference and to see what the opportunities are to bring back." Mr Last said he had a clear message for industry leaders at the resources event, that Queensland was open for business. With the world's best coal and gas reserves, he said the government would not waiver in its support while global demand continued for Queensland's resources. "I had a gas company in last week and I said to that gas company, 'I'll sign you drill. You go out there, you find those gas reserves and I'll sign the approvals because that's what we're about', he said. "We hear a lot from the naysayers proclaiming the end of the resources industry, particularly the end of coal. But as we stand here tonight, more than 400 coal-fired power stations are being built right now around the world. "Think about that. Four hundred. It's a similar story for gas. Global demand continues to be strong, and we are ideally positioned to capitalise on that. That's the reality." He said coal and gas exports were fundamental to the state's economy along with bauxite, copper and other metals mining industries. Mr Last said his priority as minister would be to ensure that project approvals were efficient, transparent, and predictable. "That means reducing red tape, streamlining processes and making sure that when you get a decision, it's a yes or a no. You get it quickly," he said. "The days of endless bureaucratic delays are over. My vision for Queensland is a state that welcomes resources investment. We're creating an environment where companies can plan for the future with confidence, and that's important to us where investors and businesses can have absolute certainty that the goalposts won't change midgame." The Resources Cabinet Committee, due to meet again next week, was already making progress in identifying the hurdles, he said. "Those days of 15 years timeframes for a greenfield coal mine (approval) are over."

Overseas mission to put Qld resources ‘centre stage’

Industry Queensland

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