QRC CEO Michael Roche said the candidate Rod Harding shouldn’t forget the vital role that resources play in everyday life.

“Without mined resources and the everyday items made from them, he wouldn’t be able to campaign around Brisbane in a car, communicate on a smart phone or be photographed in front of Brisbane’s iconic Story Bridge, made of steel using coking coal,” he said.

Harding announced a policy to divest from fossil fuels if he wins the top job, despite the fact that the coal and gas sectors deliver tens of thousands of jobs to the citizens of Brisbane, Roche said.

The QRC’s 2014-15 Economic Contribution Report shows that the resources sector accounts for the jobs of 150,000 Brisbane workers.

“These are ordinary citizens, working in engineering and metal fabrication businesses, transport and logistics, legal and accounting firms and environmental consultancies, to name just a few, Roche said.

“In fact there are more than 5,000 Brisbane businesses that are direct beneficiaries of spending by resources companies.

“The resources sector is doing it tough this year and now more than ever, the workers need governments at all levels to announce sensible policies that will protect jobs – not doing back-room preference deals that may lead to job losses.”

Harding says that if he was lord mayor, the Council would not place their term deposits with financial institutions that invest in fossil fuels.

“Mr Harding needs to do his homework,” Roche said.

“Fossil fuels, including coal, are expected to continue to play a significant role in meeting energy demand for decades, as outlined by the International Energy Agency last December. It re-affirmed that demand for coal will continue to grow until 2040.”