Queensland mining Minister announced

Queensland has a new Minister for Natural Resources and Mines.

David Crisafulli became the 41st Queensland Premier last week, and has now revealed a new Minister for Natural Resources and Mines to replace the previous Queensland Government’s Minister for Resources and Critical Minerals Scott Stewart.

Dave Last was declared to represent the portfolio, and will also become the new Minister for Manufacturing and Minister for Regional and Rural Development.

The Queensland Resources Council (QRC) was one of the first to welcome Last to the job.

“The QRC looks forward to working constructively with Minister Last, whose own electorate includes one of Queensland’s major resources regions,” QRC chief executive officer Janette Hewson said.

“In the 2022-23 financial year our coal, gas, metals and critical minerals generated close to $117 billion for Queensland and supported more than 530,000 jobs.

“There are significant opportunities for Queensland’s world-leading resources sector to continue underpinning our state’s economic prosperity with the right government policy settings that attract investment in new projects.”

Hewson said the QRC looks forward to meeting with Last to discuss the government’s plans to unlock these opportunities for the benefit of all Queenslanders.

“The resources sector is essential to the future energy mix of Queensland and globally, and we will continue our commitments to responsible mining and sustainable outcomes,” she said.

The new Queensland Government has committed to re-establishing a resources cabinet sub-committee that will work to improve consultation across government on policies that encourage investment in the resources sector.

Also on the agenda is the re-establishment of a Productivity Commission to assess economic development and cut red tape, $2 million in funding for the Queensland Resources Council’s (QRC) educational arm to boost regional skills training, as well as $500,000 to attract more women to the resources sector workforce.