Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Families and Social Services) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Canavan for his question and his very strong interest and advocacy on behalf of our very important resources sector. Like the rest of the Morrison-McCormack government, we understand what a huge role the resources sector plays in creating jobs, especially in rural and regional Australia. It's an absolute pillar of our economic prosperity. It is crucial because it employs more than 264,000 Australians—hardworking Australians. Our coal exports contributed $43.8 billion to the Australian economy last year alone. These export earnings help to pay for the infrastructure that we need—the hospitals, the schools and all of the things that Australians obviously rely on. The sector is absolutely critical for our economic prosperity, and it has been absolutely steadfast in its contribution to our economic recovery from the COVID pandemic.

Yes, Senator Canavan, there are some very significant risks to the sector. In front of us, right now, there are risks from those sitting opposite and their state colleagues in the Queensland government. The recent High Court decision in relation to the New Acland mine, in the Darling Downs region of Queensland, has exposed exactly that—and the Queensland government's failures to support the resources sector in that state. New Hope have been battling for five years to try and resolve the planning approvals for the expansion of that mine. I'll quote New Hope's chief executive, who said:

What we need from the government—

the Queensland government—

is a roadmap for how we get the project up and running because more delays equates to more job losses.

It is absolutely essential that this world-class operator, the kind of operator that we want operating in Australia, is able to get on with the job of making investments and creating jobs for Australians.