Matthew Canavan (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Minister for Resources and Northern Australia) Share this | Hansard source

These investments under the Bowen Basin jobs and investment package aren't just for the resources sector. There is clearly a need to diversify the economy of these regions as well, and that's why we're also investing in other industries to create jobs, including through a $5 million investment to build a new beef processing facility near Moranbah. That project will create 70 permanent jobs in a small country town and also provide an alternative outlet for our beef sector to have their products processed closer to where they are grown.

We are also providing $2.9 million for an intermodal terminal at Emerald to provide an inland freight hub to connect Toowoomba to Gladstone and create more logistics through the inland of our country as well to use those roads and provide jobs in inland Australia. We are also supporting the canegrowers' industry to become more water efficient around the Mackay region, particularly in response to high electricity prices. All of these benefits will mean a more diverse, robust and resilient economy in Central Queensland. We are about creating jobs in this government.