Queensland's attractiveness as a mining investment destination has suffered at the hands of an "on again, off again" approach to policy, the state's resources sector says.
The state risked losing major mining projects due to poor perceptions, Queensland Resources Council (QRC) chief executive Michael Roche told a conference in Brisbane.
The Palaszczuk government would not have enough time to mitigate the economic impacts if it followed through with a proposal to wind down sand mining on North Stradbroke Island by 2019, he claimed.
"I have been assured by the minister that the QRC will be consulted on this matter and I will be urging the government to work towards a win-win for the island," Mr Roche said.
He said the decision could cost about 270 mine jobs and pull $130 million from the island's annual economy.
The former Newman government had indicated it would phase out mining on the island over 20 years, replacing the initial deadline of 2019 imposed by Labor premier Anna Bligh in 2011.
Labor's proposal is a return to the original plan.
Mr Roche "happily acknowledged" some positive government initiatives to help investment.
But he warned there had been more than one instance of perceived policy risk, including a 2013 Liberal National Party decision to ban mining on a Cape York site which ended prospects for a $1.2b Pisolite Hills bauxite mine.
The Palaszczuk government insists it's honouring an election commitment by reinstating the previous Labor government's plans to end sand mining on North Stradbroke Island.
It says it has committed $20 million to the Minjerrabah community for a five-year transition strategy for the island to provide new job opportunities.
Share
