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

I thank Senator O'Sullivan for his question and his keen interest in the economic fortunes of North Queensland. I was able to join another senator in North Queensland, Senator Macdonald, in Townsville last week on what was a banner day for North Queensland and a historic day for North Queensland when Adani announced that it had made the final investment decision for the Carmichael mine and was proceeding with it.

We were also there to open the headquarters of Adani in Townsville. It is great news for regional Queensland that a large company making what will be the largest investment from an Indian company in Australia has decided to headquarter in a regional town, in Townsville, creating hundreds of administrative jobs and an economic ecosystem for the people of North Queensland and Townsville as well.

Of course, I want to recognise the great efforts of Senator Macdonald in promoting North Queensland, standing behind projects like this one and supporting those people in North Queensland who just want to work hard, have a job and provide for their family. That is what this project offers. This project offers the people of North Queensland who are desperate to have a job, to have a go in life, to be able to provide for themselves, the ability to do that for their families by getting a decent, hardworking job in our coal sector, which we fully support.

We have seen the unemployment figures come out today from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. They show that unemployment in Queensland remains elevated at 6.1 per cent. It has dropped marginally but is still well above the national average of 5.5 per cent. We need these jobs in Queensland. That is why this announcement last week was so important.

It is not just about the Carmichael mine, which itself will employ 1,400 people and up to 3,800 people over time, according to the Queensland government. It is also about opening up a new coal basin in Australia—the first coal basin that would be opened up for nearly 50 years in Australia. Altogether, according to the Queensland government Coordinator-General, mines in the Galilee Basin that are on the books right now could produce over 16,000 jobs in the sector. It is an enormous prospect for our nation and particularly important for the economic future of North Queensland.