QRC chief executive Michael Roche said the document was delivered to Premier Anna Bligh and Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg seven weeks ago.
“The clear message from the QRC is that the next state government has a pivotal role in ensuring that Queensland’s recovery from the global economic downturn is strong,” he said.
From recent high-level discussions on red tape, Roche said the document had an early win with the Bligh government adopting its proposal to take on a “lead agency” model with the Department of Mines and Energy assigned to speed up the government approval processes covering resource development applications.
Roche said while he was appreciative the state government acted on an impediment to development and job growth, there was a compelling case to follow Western Australia’s lead in reviewing the entire development approvals process.
“Industry believes there are some in-built cultural and process issues in some agencies that are unnecessarily adding months and months to project approval timelines,” he said.
“We also want to see the next state government step up to the plate in reducing the sector’s cost burdens, particularly in relation to infrastructure projects hampered by unrealistic commercial expectations from government-owned service providers.
“What we all should be aiming for in 2009 is to not get caught short again by the mineral and energy demand that will regenerate in the developing economies of Asia and continue for decades to come.”
From the 20-page policy agenda document, the QRC called for a stable and predictable mineral and petroleum royalties regime and significant government reinvestment in regional infrastructure and services.
QRC also seeks the establishment of an industry-led working group to make recommendations to government on addressing current inefficiencies and delays with tenure and project approval processes.
In another swipe at bureaucracy, QRC said the key resource departments of the state should be supported and staffed at levels recognising their economic importance and to cut administrative delays.
A clear Queensland government voice on the impacts of the transition to emissions trading was also sought by the QRC.
The policy agenda document has been released today and is available from QRC’s website.
