Federal Member for Capricornia Michelle Landry has supported the Queensland Resources Council’s push for the Queensland State Government to come clean about their plan to increase royalty taxes.
Chief Executive Officer of the Queensland Resources Council Ian Macfarlane has said Queenslanders, particularly people living in regional areas, are entitled to know the full details of the Palaszczuk Government’s resources royalty tax hike, which is being done behind closed doors and without industry consultation.
Ms Landry said the men and women working in the coal sector in the Capricornia region, and throughout Queensland, have helped provide the bedrock for the state’s economy through the COVID pandemic.
“Nearly 92 per cent of metallurgical coal exports came from Queensland in 2021, which means billions of dollars in royalties and taxes to pay for the services we all rely on,” Ms Landry said.
“We should be thanking our coal miners for the work they do, not threatening to take away their jobs which could happen under Labor’s plan for higher taxes on the resources industry.
“Once again, it seems the Queensland Labor Government plans to rip out more royalties from Central Queensland and put it on a platter for Southeast Queensland. Central Queensland deserves its fair share.
“There are 91 new major resources and energy projects in the pipeline in Queensland, which will deliver thousands of new jobs, especially in regional areas which could now be under threat.
“On top of that, Queensland already has the highest royalty rates in Australia and the Queensland Labor State Government cannot even get its health system in order.
“At Rockhampton Base Hospital over forty percent of all ambulance arrivals are still being ramped and not seen within 30 minutes.
“The people of Capricornia and Queensland need to know why the Palaszczuk Government is risking their future by planning a new tax hike on the resources industry.”
