The new Queensland Government has been sworn in, with a new Minister for Resources and Critical Minerals announced.
Scott Stewart has held the position of Minister for Resources since November 2020 and will now take over the critical minerals portfolio.
The new Government structure comes as Queensland Premier Steven Miles takes the reins from Annastacia Palaszczuk.
Palaszczuk announced her retirement from politics on December 10.
“I want Queenslanders to know that every single member of my government is on their side and will be working day and night to deliver a better Queensland,” Miles said.
“My team will hit the ground running to unite our great state and deliver what matters most for Queenslanders.”
Stewart’s new portfolio has coincided with the Federal Government’s updated critical minerals list.
The previous list of 26 minerals has been expanded to include fluorine, molybdenum, arsenic, selenium, and tellurium, all of which are currently used in the defence and technology sectors.
Helium was removed from the list to further align Australia’s critical minerals list to the lists of the country’s international partners. The list now includes 30 minerals or mineral groups.
“The updated critical minerals list and the new list of strategic materials will help government focus on those commodities needed to create jobs, keep us secure and power our economy,” Federal Resources Minister Madeleine King said.
“These minerals are critical to the greening of our economy and the defence of Australia and our allies.”
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