CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY

I would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners and custodians of the land on which we meet today and pay my respects to Elders past and present.

Can I also acknowledge:

• Mayor Kelly Vea Vea, Chair of Greater Whitsunday Council of Mayors and Mayor of Isaac Regional Council.
• Tracy Mackey, CEO, Infrastructure Association of Queensland (IAQ)
• Julian Simmonds, CEO, Economic Development Queensland (Queensland Government).

It’s great to be back in Mackay, and it’s wonderful to see so many familiar faces here today.

Thank you to the whole team here at the Resources Centre of Excellence.

I believe there is no better illustration of the future opportunities that can be harnessed for this region than what we see here today.

As global demand continues for this region’s metallurgical coal exports, the new demand for critical minerals and rare earths presents an opportunity for this region to tell a new story.

RCOE’s research into the Bowen Basin’s coal mine tailings has identified the presence of light and heavy rare earth elements in this region.

The same minerals which are essential to defence technologies and the new modern technologies needed for the transition.

This is a special part of Queensland – and Australia – and it’s always a pleasure to travel here and meet the people who live and work here.

Today is such a valuable opportunity to talk about regional Queensland.

When it comes to infrastructure and regional matters, alignment across all levels of government is vital.

The Albanese Government’s commitment to councils is as longstanding as it is substantial.

The critical role they play in providing services and infrastructure to all Australians cannot be overstated.

In 2025-26, the government committed more than $3.4 billion in untied funding under the Financial Assistance Grant program.

Of this, Queensland has been allocated $688 million to spend on local priorities, including critical infrastructure such as roads.

This year’s Budget grows our commitment even further.

An additional $750 million for a further round of our flagship Growing Regions and Thriving Suburbs programs brings total investment since 2022 to over $1.7 billion.

We’re investing in the main arteries that keep this region connected and moving.

The Albanese Government’s investment in Queensland’s Beef Roads and our record $7.2 billion investment in the Bruce Highway is a representation that our government does not take Regional Queensland for granted.

And it was fantastic to join Mayor Vea Vea and the Member for Gregory, Sean Dillon in Clermont last month to inspect progress on Clermont-Alpha Road – a key upgrade part of the Beef Corridors Program.

Whether it’s in Clermont to Canberra, the Albanese Government is working to ensure local government has a seat at the table.

In keeping with our commitment, we have re-referred the matter of local government sustainability to a parliamentary inquiry.

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Regional Development, Infrastructure and Transport has adopted the matter for inquiry, and I am delighted that local governments will continue to have their experience and perspectives heard.

The government looks forward to receiving the committee’s final report and recommendations.

We’ll use them to ensure that local councils, including those here in Queensland, continue to get the funding and support they need to deliver for Queenslanders.

Because we know that regional Queensland is delivering on the national and international stage.

The regions are playing a central role in positioning this state as a globally significant critical minerals hub.

As the Assistant Minister for Resources, I have had the opportunity to engage in numerous bilateral discussions with our international partners and neighbours who are eagerly seeking partners to strengthen their supply chains.

The Albanese Government, led by Minister King have been working diligently to get the policy settings right to catalyse investment as part of our Future Made in Australia agenda.

From July 1 next year, our Critical Minerals Production Tax Incentive will come into effect.

This will incentivise critical minerals proponents to push their operations further down the processing supply chain to build new industry and create new jobs in our regional communities.

This is being boosted by investments in infrastructure upgrades, shared processing facilities, and regional manufacturing, all of which are lifting our capability in the resources sector.

Investment by the Federal Government’s Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF) is playing a central role.

The NAIF is currently investing in 15 projects, representing more than $1.76 billion in NAIF funding and over $3.8 billion in total project value.

Last year, I was pleased to join Mayor Kelly Vea Vea in Moranbah to visit Pembroke Olive Downs Coal Mine which was a recipient of NAIF funds for their steelmaking coal project.

It’s a fantastic illustration of how Government and industry can work together to unlock jobs and investment in regions like these.

Crucially, the NAIF has committed $500 million to critical minerals projects across northern Australia.

It has provided loans to five critical minerals projects, with total funding of up to $835 million.

The NAIF has also supported 6 social infrastructure projects in Queensland to date, with total funding of approximately $400 million across affordable housing, university accommodation, and related infrastructure.

In addition, in April, the NAIF announced a loan of up to $40 million to support the construction of 81 new social and affordable housing units in Townsville.

These are critical investments because we want key local industries in this state to have every opportunity to invest and expand.

And expansion is problematic if there are shortages in things like housing and other essential economic infrastructure.

Inadequate local accommodation makes it harder to attract and retain workers.

This increases reliance on fly-in-fly-out or drive-in-drive-out workforces and reduces local economic participation.

This can delay major projects and add costs, particularly in sectors like resources, tourism and defence.

The Federal Budget outlined a number of ways we’re tackling housing shortages in the regions.

A new $2 billion Local Infrastructure Fund under the Housing Support Program, with $500 million dedicated to local enabling infrastructure in regional Australia.

We’re responding to the demand for housing enabling infrastructure demonstrated through the Community Enabling 
Infrastructure Stream under the Housing Support Program.

This new stream will help local governments and state utility providers build the critical ‘last mile’ infrastructure needed to support new housing developments.

While we have a long way to go, governments at all levels are working to address the housing crisis.

Housing availability is one piece of the puzzle; a skilled workforce is the other.

We know there are chronic skills shortages across much of regional Queensland.

This is affecting mining and resources, agriculture, tourism, construction, health, education and essential services.

The government is working to support the pipeline of skilled workers in Queensland through housing programs and other measures.

These include the Remote Jobs and Economic Development program, and the National Skills Agreement, a 5-year joint agreement between the Commonwealth and states and territories to strengthen the VET sector.

The crisis in the Middle East has demonstrated how interruptions to global supply chains can impact regions like this one.

Regions that rely heavily on industry, agriculture, mining and resources.

We know that the Queensland mining industry is vital to both local communities and Australia as a whole.

Maintaining mining operations supports our national economic strength and energy security.

Reliable access to diesel is critical for our Queensland mining regions.

The resources sector accounts for 25 per cent of all diesel use in Australia, and the Queensland coal industry represents almost 30 per cent of that demand.

It’s only right that our Government backs this industry and our mining communities every single day to ensure they have the fuel and diesel they need to keep doing what they do best.

Thank you again for the opportunity to be part of today’s discussions.

I want to reaffirm our commitment to working with our state and local government counterparts to make sure Mackay, Isaac and Whitsunday regions get the infrastructure investments they need to keep thriving.