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oPInIon

It was a great privilege to be sworn in as Minister for Resources and

water on July 2 and be given the opportunity to continue working

with two of Australia’s most significant industries.

t is also a privilege to serve as Minister export earnings peaking at around $29 bil- elements and second for production but our
Iin a Government that has such a strong lion next financial year. growth potential is enormous when you con-
track record of unwavering support for the There is work to do at both industry and sider many of our deposits are still untapped.
resources sector and the hundreds of thou- government level to ensure Australia can As the Minister, I will continue to support
sands of Australians it employs. make the most of existing and some ex- the development of our critical minerals
Be assured that nothing has changed citing new opportunities emerging in the sector and the wider mining industry.
when it comes to my strong advocacy for resources sector globally. The $225 million we’ve invested in the
the mining sector, and our Government’s The review and recommendations of the Exploring for the Future programme, man-
determination to do everything we can to Environment Protection and Biodiversity aged by Geoscience Australia, is support-
promote new opportunities to make the Conservation (EPBC) Act will test our Labor ing the industry’s long-term future.
most of our abundant resources. opponent’s claims to support the resources By backing exploration, we’re backing in-
And why wouldn’t we when you look at industry and its workers. dustry to uncover the new Pilbara, Bowen
the latest figures? The review offers the chance to remove un- Basin or Mount Isa, which we know is out
The resources and energy sector direct- necessary duplication along with red and green there.
ly employs around 270,000 Australians tape to streamline new project approvals. There’s also the $100 million invested in
and over a million more indirectly. the Junior Minerals Exploration In-
It also generated a record $310 centive that supports smaller com-
billion in exports last financial year panies zeroing in on the big depos-
and is tipped to rise above $330 its that will ensure the resources
billion next year. industry continues to underpin our
These are extraordinary figures national economy.
during a year when the corona- I have had the opportunity over
virus pandemic has shut down the past 18 months to travel to
economies around the world, and mine sites across our great coun-
other trade challenges tested the try meeting some of the 270,000
adaptability and agility of the re- workers employed in resources,
sources sector. everyone from the top execu-
I thank each and every worker tives to the first-year apprentice,
for the efforts they put in to keep to thank them for their efforts over
the industry operating at such that time.
a crucial time. Resources have Many have made sacrifices and
again underpinned the national been away from home for months
economy in its time of need. on end to keep themselves in work,
Iron ore has obviously played support their families and keep the
a significant part in the resources industry going.
sector’s contribution. This is the most rewarding and
While some commentators sug- important part of my role, ensur-
gest good luck has played a role, Keith Pitt is the Federal Minister for Resources, Water and ing Australians of all backgrounds
I say it’s the result of hard work by Northern Australia. He is a member of the National Party and has have the opportunity to work in an
industry and government that’s represented the Division of Hinkler in Queensland since 2013 industry that offers such varied
established Australia as a reliable, and enjoyable careers.
stable supplier of a high quality product It’s often raised with me as an issue of You can be assured that you have the full
throughout the pandemic. concern and our Government is focused support of a Federal Minister advocating for
Iron ore became the first Australian on correcting the balance to get new mining your industry and the backing of a govern-
commodity to surpass $100 billion in annu- projects operating as soon as possible with- ment that values not just your economic
al exports 2019/20 and in the last financial out having to wait for the same approvals contribution, but the opportunities you pro-
year reached an incredible $149 billion. from state and federal governments. vide to so many young Australians willing to
The most recent Resources and Energy Critical minerals and rare earths are sup- have a go.
Quarterly indicates the figure will remain porting the technology of today and will drive Unlike our opponents, we don’t need
above the $100 billion mark for at least the its development into the future. to take a vote in our party room to decide
next two years. Think smartphones, medical and defence whether we support resources. You can
As Resources Minister, my focus equipment, electric vehicles and they all re- take it as a given.
stretches well beyond what’s happening in quire critical minerals. I look forward to working with you to help
the Pilbara and the coal mining regions of We are the largest producer of lithium in grow this crucial industry.
New South Wales and Queensland. the world and have the largest resources of
Australia is on the verge of becoming rutile, zircon and tantalum.
the world’s biggest producer of gold with We’re ranked sixth in the world for rare

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