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.

A big thank you to Alison Smith for the invitation to say a few words.

I think it’s safe to say the work you do is felt by everyone in this room.

Thank you for bringing us all together today, and thank you for continuing to provide that strong voice for local government at the state and federal level.

Can I also acknowledge the previous speaker, Minister Dale Last, Queensland’s Minister for Resources and Mines.

And can I also acknowledge Steven Boxall and the team here at the Resources Centre of Excellence – this is a fantastic facility which truly showcases the opportunity that Queensland can seize with the global interest in critical minerals.

I look forward to also seeing the expansion of RCOE’s operations with the Isaac Resources Centre of Excellence currently under construction – an important project which the Albanese Government invested in partnership with the State Government.

Good morning everyone – it’s great to see so many Mayors, Councillors and representatives from Queensland’s councils and regional partners here in Mackay.

Your communities are the engine room of Queensland’s resources sector which create opportunity for regional families and contribute so much to our national economy.

Given recent global events, forums like these are so important to get together to discuss some of the issues and priorities across our resources landscape – and how they affect our regional communities.

The crisis in the Middle East has brought into sharp focus the importance of global supply chains and how interruptions can impact regional Australia.

Especially regions that rely on heavy industry, agriculture, mining and resources.

The region has played a central role in powering Australia’s economy for over a century, through coal, METS, and mining excellence.

Continuing to maintain mining operations in this state is essential to our economic strength and energy security.

And reliable access to products like diesel fuel is obviously critical for Queensland’s mining regions.

The resources sector accounts for 25 per cent of all diesel use in Australia.

The Queensland coal industry alone represents almost 30 per cent of that demand.

Major mining operators, to their credit, have invested for decades in their own fuel supply arrangements and storage capacity.

This helps ensure their operations continue, without impeding the supply to the wider community.

In saying that, the government’s response to the fuel crisis has been swift.

The Albanese Government’s National Fuel Security Plan provides a coordinated response across the Commonwealth, States, and Territories.

An essential part of this has been pursuing fuel diplomacy and supporting the release of emergency reserves.

Just last week, the Prime Minister and Minister Bowen announced that the Albanese Government through an agreement between Export Finance Australia and Freedom Fuels has secured an additional 40 million litres of diesel for Queensland usage.

In responding to this crisis, we’ve been reminded of something very important.

Australia’s standing as a reliable energy producer that can meet domestic demand and help our regional partners is one of our nation’s most enduring and significant strategic assets.

It is Queensland’s LNG that has been the backbone of our international partner’s energy security and has supported our neighbours affected by the conflict in the Middle East.

Through recent bilateral meetings with our neighbours in the Asia-Pacific and our partners, the Prime Minister has reinforced Australia’s standing as a reliable supplier of LNG, while securing vital assurances for future supplies of petrol, diesel and fertiliser.

As a result of the Government’s decisive action, we’ve been able to reduce the shock that is felt here at home and particularly in Regional Australia.

At home, gas remains critical to Australia’s energy system and to regional economies.

It’s gas that firms our electricity grid powering Queensland homes and businesses, but it’s also an essential feedstock to mining industry and manufacturing sector.

And as one of the biggest exporters of gas globally, it makes no sense that Queensland businesses and consumers should be subject to seasonal gas shortfalls and price volatility.

Last December, the Albanese Government released the Gas Market Review Report seeking to address these key issues.

In response, the Albanese Government will implement a landmark reform by introducing a domestic gas reservation scheme that will require all gas exporters to reserve gas for Australian consumers.

From July next year, LNG exports will be required to supply 20 per cent of their export volumes for Australian gas users.

This will put downward pressure on gas prices – delivering cheaper gas for Australians families, businesses and manufacturers.

And it will shield our economy from the price volatility that comes with global energy shocks.

Our Government has been undergoing consultation on the scheme over the last 12 months, and the final stages on consultation are currently underway.

I look forward to continuing to engage and receive feedback from stakeholders and industry to ensure we get the details right.

Like our gas reserves in Gladstone, the mineral-rich earth of Queensland’s north-west is also key to our economy.

It represents an enormous opportunity for Australia to build new industry and harness the demand from our international partners who seek to strengthen their supply chains.

And North-west Queensland sits in an eminent position with rich deposits of cobalt, rare earths, tungsten, graphite, antimony and vanadium – critical minerals essential for digital, defence and renewable technologies.

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.

We are sending a signal with not only words, but actions that Australia is the place to invest for minerals extraction and processing.

Our Critical Minerals Strategic Reserve will help secure, sell and stockpile these critical minerals vital to Australia’s economy.

The first target minerals identified for stockpiling include gallium, antimony, light rare earth elements and heavy rare earth elements.

Alongside the Reserve, Australia and the United States are delivering landmark bilateral agreements to strengthen, secure, and diversify critical minerals and rare earths supply chains.

The Australia-US Critical Minerals Framework was signed in October last year, and recently Minister King met with US Secretary of the Interior in March to advance this cooperation.

Within six months of the signing of the Framework, Australia and the US have taken measures to deliver over $5 billion in financing for key critical minerals projects.

This includes three Queensland projects – Graphinex’s Esmeralda Graphite Mine, EQ Resources’ Mount Carbine Tungsten Project, and RZ Resources’ Mineral Separation Plant.

These investments all strengthen longer-term supply for defence, manufacturing, and energy supply chains.

One of my first visits as the new Assistant Minister for Resources was with State Minister Dale Last to open Graphinex’s 
Battery Anode Demonstration Facility in Townsville.

From its Townsville facility, Graphinex is the first in Australia to turn raw graphite into battery-ready material for global manufacturers of electric vehicles, drones and robotics.

The Townsville processing facility and North-west Esmeralda Graphite mine demonstrate to me the enormous opportunity for new jobs and industrial capability in Regional Queensland.

As Assistant Minister for Resources and a proud Queensland Senator, I want to see more opportunities like this across our State.

I look forward to hearing from you on how we can continue to grow investment in our communities together.

Growth and expansion are the key to keeping this momentum going, and this government will continue to back critical mineral projects in northern Queensland.

Queensland has also benefited significantly from Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility support across the critical minerals supply chain.

The NAIF is committing $500 million to critical minerals projects in northern Australia, providing loans to five critical minerals projects, with total funding of up to $835 million

This includes $200 million for the Alpha HPA Project in Gladstone.

Just last month I visited the facility in Gladstone and saw firsthand the incredible progress being made on their Stage 2 site.

Despite its relatively small Stage 1 operation, Alpha has a significant global footprint.

Using a world first process, Alpha is delivering high-purity alumina and aluminium materials essential in the manufacture of semiconductors and batteries.

The Government’s funding package is now giving Alpha HPA the runway it needs to take its operations to the next level and deliver more of the critical minerals to support decarbonisation.

Our efforts to invest in mineral resources across Queensland don’t end there.

We know how important copper is to the region.

The Mount Isa Copper Smelter supports thousands of jobs through north-west Queensland through the processing and refining supply chain.

In October 2025, the Australian and Queensland governments announced a joint investment of $600 million over the next three years in the Mount Isa Copper Smelter and Townsville Refinery.

A key part of this support package is a transformation study into the copper facilities and the economic potential of the broader region.

This investment is about protecting more than 600 direct jobs in Mount Isa and securing a further 500 jobs at the nearby Phosphate Hill facility.

As I said at the outset, regional Queensland has played, and will continue to play, a central role in powering Australia’s economy for over a century.

But the state can’t do it without the passion and advocacy provided by organisations like the LGAQ.

The efforts of all of you to improve operations, deliver services, and strengthen relationships with your respective communities deserve high praise.

I look forward to continuing to work with all of you to safeguard the future of this great state.

Thank you for your time and please enjoy the rest of the program.