FIVE regional Queensland women who work in the state’s resources sector have been awarded travel grants to attend one of the biggest International Women’s Day events in the state.

The grants, awarded by the Queensland Resources Council (QRC) enable them to attend the QRC/Women in Mining and Resources Queensland International Women’s Day Breakfast and Inspire!Convention on March 8 in Brisbane.

The grants were funded by the Queensland Government’s Advancing Women in Business initiative.

“I congratulate the government on this initiative, which will enable women who otherwise would not have been able to attend the events to take part in valuable professional development and networking,” said QRC chief executive Ian Macfarlane.

“The Minister for Child Safety, Youth and Women and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Di Farmer will present the awards along with QRC President Rag Udd and WIMARQ Chair Maria Joyce.

“These events are an important part of our sector’s endeavors to improve the gender balance in our workplaces.

“The breakfast also includes the 14th annual Resources Awards for Women, which celebrate and acknowledge the achievements of women in our sector.

“We also welcome to the breakfast about 50 girls from our Queensland Minerals and Energy (QMEA) schools, along with 20 girls who have been selected for the inaugural QRC/WIMARQ Girls Mentoring Program, and three finalists in the QMEA Exceptional Student award.
 
“These girls are part of our future. If we are to attract the technologically skilled people our industry needs, it’s important that we don’t miss out on the talents of half our population.

“It’s good to see we have attracted about 800 people, with about 400 more watching via webcast in Moranbah, Blackwater, Century Mine, Mount Isa and Rockhampton, and at many smaller events.

www.qrc.org.au

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THE Queensland Resources Council (QRC) has welcomed the green light for Arrow Energy’s $10 billion Surat Gas Project which will create around 1000 jobs during construction and operation.

QRC chief executive Ian Macfarlane said the decision to grant 14 petroleum leases would be a welcome addition to the state’s economy and a significant local boost for the Western Downs.

“Every new resources project in Queensland means more jobs, and more royalty taxes paid to benefit all Queenslanders,” Mr Macfarlane said.

“Through the bipartisan foresight more than a decade ago to develop Queensland’s gas industry, we are now reaping the benefits of an industry that supports more than 39,000 jobs and injects $8.2 billion into the Queensland economy.

“The go ahead for Arrow Energy’s project in the Surat is a significant commitment of confidence in the Queensland gas industry and is a sizeable investment from the private sector.

“More gas being produced is good news for all gas customers, both domestic and export. 

“The development of our state’s gas industry is in stark contrast to the inaction of other states, where opportunity for investment and jobs is being squandered.

”With a go-slow on gas development in NSW and a blanket ban on some types of gas projects in Victoria, what the Southern States are really saying is they’re not prepared to support local jobs and local industry.

“The ongoing strength of our resources sector will lock in economic gains for all Queenslanders.

“But we cannot take this success for granted.  The Arrow Energy project is a welcome addition to our state’s diverse resources sector, but we must ensure more projects are developed across our full range of commodities, including gas, coal, metals and other minerals.

“Only stable and predictable policy with a clear set of rules will ensure investment in exploration leads to new investment, new jobs and new exports for Queensland.”

www.qrc.org.au

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THE Financial Services Council (FSC) has welcomed today‘s release of the fourth edition of the ASX Corporate Governance Principles and Recommendations.

FSC Policy Manager Jane Macnamara, who is the association’s representative on the ASX Corporate Governance Council, said the new edition reflected Australia’s growing focus on strong culture, values and accountability in business.

“The FSC and its members recognise the importance of good corporate governance to maintain trust in business and ensure business practices are sustainable over the long term,” Ms Macnamara said.

“The FSC is also pleased to see new standards for diversity in organisations and increased recognition of environmental and social risks facing business, including climate risk.”

In addition to supporting the Corporate Governance Principles, the FSC promotes high standards of governance in member organisations through standards and guidance, including Australia’s first Asset Stewardship Code for investment managers and asset owners which commenced in 2018.

The FSC’s standards are available here.

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THE Queensland Resources Council (QRC) said today the long-term future of the coal industry would ensure ongoing jobs for Queensland workers and investment in regional communities.

QRC chief executive Ian Macfarlane said the coal industry employs 215,600 people directly and indirectly, out of the 316,000 employed across the state’s resources sector. The majority of those jobs are in Central and North Queensland.

“Resources jobs are jobs of the future.  Queensland’s coal employees work in one of the most important sectors for our economy,” Mr Macfarlane said.

“And it is the hard work of Queensland’s coal employees which puts money in the bank for the Palaszczuk Government.

“Without those workers, the Palaszczuk Government wouldn’t have the money to pay for Cross River Rail, it wouldn’t have the money to help North Queensland rebuild after the recent flood disaster, and it wouldn’t have the money to pay public servants’ wages.

“It’s wrong to suggest Queensland coal workers won’t have a long-term future. In fact, those jobs will be critical to ongoing development in Australia and around the world.

“Treasury estimates Queensland coal royalty taxes will be worth $4.26 billion to the Palaszczuk Government’s budget this year. 

“QRC estimates based on current values that amount could go even higher with an extra $30 million on top, as the market for both types of Queensland coal remains strong," Mr Macfarlane said.

"Figures from the Office of the Chief Economist’s December update showed that if the six major coal projects in the Galilee Basin were to proceed they would create 13,900 construction jobs and 12,803 jobs during operations. 

“Those jobs create an opportunity that regional Queenslanders are ready to grasp, especially given mining jobs are typically high-skilled and high-paying.

“The global demand for coal is strong, and coal is forecast to remain at about 40 percent of total power generation in the Asia Pacific by the year 2040 under a scenario modelled by the International Energy Agency.

“We welcome the focus of the Queensland Parliament on the resources industry and coal jobs.

“But that focus should be because Queensland is a resources heavyweight which delivers benefits for every single Queenslander and will do so in the future.”

www.qrc.org.au

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