Resources sector provides benefits to Queensland regional businesses

The Queensland Resource Council CEO, Michael Roche, has released data showing more than 24 000 local businesses throughout Queensland were benefitting from resource company purchases.

Regional and rural Queensland businesses are receiving a significant financial boost from resource companies buying local.

“Mining and gas operations are long-term projects and they provide present and future economic benefits across Queensland,” Roche said. “Buying local provides a win-win for resource companies and local communities … That means jobs now and on-going jobs, as well as economic sustainability for regional and rural Queensland.”

Roche indicated that the latest data identifies that over 24 000 local businesses supplied the resources sector in Queensland, from well-established supply hubs in Brisbane, Mackay, Rockhampton and Toowoomba.

On Thursday, the QRC is hosting a forum of 50 resource sector stakeholders to further enhance the benefits of ‘buying local’ for resource companies and local businesses.

“The objective of the forum is to discuss areas where local industry engagement is working well, and not so well,” Roche continued. “Importantly, we are looking for ways to improve the implementation, effectiveness and adoption of the Code.”

Roche said the Code was unique to Queensland and was leading practice self-regulation.

“This approach delivers much more direct positive benefit to local businesses than a tick-a-box regulated scheme,” Roche concluded. “An added and important benefit is that the Code applies to all projects – that is existing projects, not just those seeking project approval.”

Edited from press release by Harleigh Hobbs

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcoal.com/coal/05082016/resources-sector-provides-benefits-to-queensland-regional-businesses-2171/