Joint media release with Garth Hamilton MP, Member for Groom
Federal Minister for Resources, Water and Northern Australia Keith Pitt says today’s High Court decision on Oakey’s New Acland mine shows the urgent need for the Queensland Labor Government to reform its approval process for resources projects.
Minister Pitt said the decision to send the matter back to the Land Court puts hundreds of job in jeopardy.
“This is a classic example of the Queensland approval process allowing activists to use the courts and legal system to delay legitimate resources projects,” Minister Pitt said.
“Once again a regional area is in danger of missing out on the jobs and economic boost a project like this will bring because out-of-town and interstate activists know how to use the legal system to support their agenda.
Queensland needs to build more critical dams to revive its economy, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said, as he expressed frustration at the State Government dragging its heels. He has urged to state to get on with approving more job generating projects for the regions, including Hughenden Dam and Hells Gate. Prime Minister Scott Morrison with his deputy, Infrastructure and Regional Development Minister Michael McCormack, on a visit to the Tully family property near Quilpie last week. Picture: Lukas Coch/AAP Mr Morrison would not commit to a state employment target, with Queensland now having the highest jobless rate in the country of 7.5 per cent, saying that was up to the Premier.
The Queensland Labor Government spent less per capita on social housing and increased its property portfolio by just 73 as the state s waiting list exploded to nearly 21,000 people last year. As the coronavirus pandemic bit for the state s most marginalised, the Government spent an extra $47 million on the problem, but didn t keep up with population growth. The expenditure per head was $132, down from $135 in 2018-19, and it was the second lowest spend rate in the country, according to the 2021 Report on Government Services. Housing Minister Leeanne Enoch It follows years of the Government talking up its plans to increase public housing. Despite spending $1.05 billion on social housing in 2019-20, there was 20,820 people waiting for public housing as at June 30, 2020 - up from 15,817 a year earlier.