Queensland "Horrible" Environment for Mining Exploration, says QRC

By Joel ScanlonMar 27 2011

The Queensland Resources Council wants the state to ease up and allow more mining exploration. The chief of the Queensland Resources Council Michael Roche said that the horrible environment for mining exploration in the state is getting even worse. The state’s policy settings are going from bad to worse as the Labor government tries to please the Greens by going back on its promises to the mining community.

The Queensland Exploration Council feels that not enough is being done about finding new mineral deposits in the state. With the backing of the QRC the QEC is going to publish a scorecard on a yearly basis to assess the mining exploration activities carried out in Queensland to support a new mining lobby group.

Mr Roche was speaking to the Australian Copper Conference when he pointed out that Queensland was now ranked 38 by the Fraser Institute Index in the current year. This was down by 8 places as compared to last year’s ranking for best places to mine. He also said that many of the state's most profitable mines were reaching the end of their life and new deposits must be found.

He said that the good news is that all the expert evidence in Queensland remains highly prospective. It is just a matter of the right amount of exploration being undertaken. He also spoke about the government's introduction of laws this week that cancel and deny the renewal of North Stradbroke Island leases held by miner Sibelco. He said that most QRC directors were astounded by this move and were wondering who would be next.