The QRC’s quarterly State of the Sector report for March issued this week, which included an industry survey of member company CEOS on the government’s performance, investment confidence and business outlook.
While the answer was generally a predictable “too early to tell”, Labor only having taken power in January, QRC CEO Michael Roche said industry was encouraged by the fact that the Palaszczuk government had given the green light to many of the initiatives of the LNP administration that were in train when the election was called.
“We may see some re-branding, but the essence of many important initiatives remains intact,” Roche said.
“This ‘business as usual’ approach is also being encouraged by the appointment of key advisers who worked closely with QRC in the past and are advising their new ministers accordingly.”
One of the first encouraging signals from the new government, Roche said, was that it had resisted the temptation to renovate the machinery of government inherited from its predecessor.
“Over the next few months, a formal merit-based process will confirm the appointment of directors-general, and while some new faces are expected, it is reported that many incumbents are quietly confident they have demonstrated strong claims for their positions,” Roche said.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has defined her government as consultative and jobs-focused – and Roche said industry would hold her to that promise, that those “defining characteristics” would be in evidence in how the government deals with pressures to reinstate a ban on uranium mining and bring sand mining operations on North Stradbroke Island to an “abrupt and premature” halt.
Another challenge for Palaszczuk, he said, was to resist Sydney shock jock’s campaign to “kill off hundreds of local jobs at the New Acland coal mine on the Darling Downs”.
Roche also commended the state government’s early achievements – led by Environment Minister Dr Steven Miles – in finalising the Reef 2050 Plan with the federal government and developing a dredging solution for the Abbott Point coal terminal, along with the introduction of legislation which should ensure that copper mining and smelting in Mount Isa can continue beyond 2016.
“The Palaszczuk government also continues to show its political support for the development of the Galilee Basin and associated supply chain infrastructure,” Roche said.
“We are seeing the Deputy Premier [Jackie Trad] playing a strong and constructive role behind the scenes. While our sector is going through a remorseless process of cost -cutting to reflect market conditions, it is still a mainstay of regional Queensland.
“No one understands this better than Treasurer Curtis Pitt who represents a Cairns region electorate where youth and indigenous unemployment are major challenges.”
The QRC hopes to renew its indigenous jobs memorandum of understanding with Pitt shortly.
Also making good impressions are Minister for State Development, Natural Resources and Mines, Dr Anthony Lynham, who Roche said had been “getting around the state’s resources map” and had impressed hosts with his willingness to understand an issue rather than arriving with an opinion.
“His portfolio responsibilities are broad and pivotal to the success of the government’s jobs ambitions,” Roche said.
