Opening the 10th Longwall Mining Summit at Yeppoon today, Palaszczuk said the booming resources sector has led to many new jobs being created.
He said in June 1998 there were 8961 people employed in Queensland's coal mining industry, and as at February this year there were 18,067 employees.
“The global appetite for our coal and minerals is at an all-time high. Prices are continuing at a high level and demand for labour is at record level," Palaszczuk said.
In his address, the minister said the coal industry's future performance in Queensland and around the world would be assisted by the development of clean coal technologies.
“With over 30 billion tonnes of identified resources of black coal in the state, the coal industry is a major contributor to Queensland's economy and the largest exporter of seaborne coal in the world. An investment in clean coal technology is an investment in the industry's sustainable future."
