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

I thank Senator Canavan for his question, and for understanding the huge importance of the resources sector in Australia, but particularly up your way in Rockhampton in that economy. The government of which we are members, the Morrison-McCormack government, understands how extraordinarily important the resources sector is and the role that it plays in creating jobs and investment in Australia, particularly in regional Australia. The sector is an absolutely key pillar of our economic prosperity, and it will be absolutely crucial in ensuring that Australia's economic recovery is strong. In fact, in August this year, the resources industry was employing over 247,000 Australians. That's an increase of more than 6,000 since February. We know the importance of giving regional Australia the best opportunity, and we will continue to back the resources sector as one of the largest and most important employers in Australia.

Even in the midst of this once-in-a-century event, the largest economic shock in 100 years, this sector continues to support regional communities and provides great support and commitment to the training of new workers, with some 8½ thousand new workers having been recently trained. The latest report, Resources and energy major projects: 2020 report, identified a really bright future for many of our major resources and energy projects, including a 19 per cent increase from last year in a number of major resources and energy projects under development currently in Australia. These 335 projects have a value of $334 billion.

As the Prime Minister said, our focus right now is protecting Australia's health, securing jobs and livelihoods, and setting Australia up to make sure that we are stronger when the coronavirus is over.