PERTH (miningweekly.com) – The Queensland government this week pledged a further A$53.5-million to the Industry Partnership Program (IPP) to support new industries.

Deputy Premier Steven Miles said the funding would focus on key priority areas, including critical minerals processing, manufacturing and product development, renewable energy manufacturing, battery industry development, and green hydrogen.

Since 2021, the IPP has been at the forefront of supporting projects in industries including green hydrogen, bioeconomy – including biofuels and sustainable aviation fuel – battery industry development, renewables, material recovery, biomedical and the critical minerals supply chain.

The program has approved 18 projects with a value of around A$1.1-billion and with the potential to create over 1 850 ongoing operational jobs.

“The A$53.5-million boost to the Industry Partnership Program creates an even bigger and better resource to attract and grow new industries and high-value jobs, bringing new skills and capabilities to Queensland,” Miles said.

“Through this new investment in the A$415.5-million IPP, we will support emerging industries aligned to the Queensland new-industry development strategy, to keep growing in this state.

“The government will continue to target projects that will form essential new links in industry supply chains, creating jobs throughout Queensland and strengthening our economy.

“The success is clear, with the program approving more than A$1.1-billion worth of projects and enabling over 1 850 ongoing jobs for Queenslanders. The response from industry has been fantastic, with important new projects being brought to life with IPP support.

“It’s now time to support even more projects in the emerging industries such as critical minerals, renewable energy manufacturing, battery industry development, green hydrogen, bioeconomy including biofuels and sustainable aviation fuel, circular economy including resource recovery and recycling, and biomedical.”