The Queensland Resources Council (QRC) and the Association of Mining and Exploration Companies (Amec) on Monday congratulated David Crisafulli on leading the Liberal National Party (LNP) to victory over the weekend and becoming the state’s forty-first Premier.

QRC CEO Janette Hewson said the organisation was looking forward to a constructive and positive relationship with Crisafulli and the LNP government. 

Hewson welcomed Crisafulli’s comments that the LNP would seek to establish Queensland’s future as a powerhouse of the Australian economy. 

“The resources sector plays a key role in the long-term vision and QRC is encouraged by the incoming Premier’s commitment to attract new investment in Queensland’s key industries, including resources.” 

QRC and Amec both welcomed the LNP’s commitments to establish a Resources Cabinet Sub-Committee to improve consultation across government on policies that encourage investment in the resources sector. 

“The Resources Subcommittee and the re-establishment of the Productivity Commission are important steps by the incoming government that will get our sector back on the state agenda and deliver better outcomes for Queensland,” said Hewson.

Speaking ahead of the International Mining and Resources Conference in Sydney on Monday, Amec CEO Warren Pearce said that, throughout 2024, the organisation had engaged with all sides of politics to help Queensland’s members of Parliament understand the challenges facing the junior and midtier exploration and mining sector.

“Today, I am pleased to say that like the new Premier, our team will hit the ground running, on the important task of advocating for reform consistent with our AMEC QLD 2024 Election Policy Platform, along with a number of other priority strategic issues.”

"Amec Queensland director Sarah Gooley spearheaded these meetings that assisted in the formation of our Election Policy Platform. It also provided members an opportunity to contribute to the priorities to progress the Queensland resources sector.

 “I have been encouraged by the meetings that our team and I have had with Dale Last MP, Deb Frecklington MP, David Janetzki MP, Andrew Powell MP, and Sam Murphy MP, to name a few.

“Queensland has an opportunity to be a world-leading powerhouse in exploration and mining. Now is the time to grasp that opportunity,” said Gooley.

“The priorities we will look to progress with the incoming government include improving land access, coexistence policy certainty, reducing red and green tape, improving whole-of-government alignment, and better safety requirements for small operators.”