Speaking from Gladstone’s Queensland Alumina Limited (QAL) Lookout, resources minister Scott Stewart said the 2022-23 State Budget would inject millions to transform the state’s new economy minerals sector into a long-term pit-to-product industry.

“The latest budget’s multi-million-dollar shot in the arm for the new economy minerals sector will fast track projects and the jobs and business opportunities for suppliers that come with them,” Mr Stewart said.

“Rio Tinto’s QAL and Yarwun refineries and Boyne smelter are great examples of how industry can build supply chains here in Queensland – with Rio mining the bauxite in Weipa needed to process and manufacture alumina and, from that, aluminium here in Gladstone.”

“Gladstone is one of Queensland’s most successful resources centres and this investment in our new economy minerals sector right from mine to manufacturing will continue to generate high-skill, highly-paid long-term jobs,” he said.

The Budget injection will drive key actions from the Queensland Resources Industry Development Plan which was released last week.

Key actions in the plan funded in the Budget include:

• An additional $17.5 million over four years for exploration, particularly for new economy minerals. This takes the total investment over five years to $22.6 million to find the future mines producing the minerals and metals that the world needs.
• $10 million over two years for geoscientific research to find out more about identified deposits and potential new ways to mine them
• $5.7 million over three years to the Resources Centre of Excellence in Mackay to expand their existing training and business incubation service to support new economy minerals projects
• $5 million over two years for research to better define Queensland’s new economy minerals potential.
• $1.59 million to make mining and exploration assessment and approvals more efficient.

The plan also highlighted opportunities for gas producers to become diversified energy providers by investing in low emissions gases like hydrogen.

Mr Stewart said the $6.7 million budget announcement for the Central Queensland Hydrogen Project had the potential to make Gladstone a world-leading hydrogen hub.

“I commend the Minister for Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen on his work on the Central Queensland Hydrogen Project – which has received a significant $15.3 million funding boost supported by last week’s budget,” he said.

“A key action in our Queensland Resources Industry Plan is to grow new markets and utilise its expertise in gas supply for hydrogen development both domestically and internationally – and Gladstone is in good stead to be a world-leading hydrogen hub.”