Editorial: Premier’s actions louder than words

Premier Steven Miles deserves at least some credit for backing the state’s coal industry, but we challenge him to be far more full-throated and practical, writes the editor.

Premier Steven Miles at the Mackay meeting. Picture: Michaela Harlow

Premier Steven Miles deserves at least some credit for committing to backing the state’s coal industry into the future. But we challenge him to be far more full-throated – and practical – to prove his support.

That is necessary for two reasons: he politically needs to show voters in the regions that he backs the mining industry, and economically he needs to start rebuilding trust in Queensland among the resources sector globally – stung by Treasurer Cameron Dick’s move two years ago to impose $10bn of new taxes on their local operations without any meaningful consultation.

The result of that move is yet to be fully realised. Decisions to invest in the resources industry are taken over far longer time frames than the length of time politicians think in.

Left unchecked, Mr Dick’s reckless move could undermine those future investment decisions – across the sector – and leave a massive hole in the budgets of future Queensland governments.

That is why it was so critical for Premier Miles to respond positively when he was asked, at a community meeting in Mackay on Wednesday evening, about his government’s commitment to the coal industry.

Mr Miles replied that he “knows and value and appreciate” what a critical role coal miners play in the state’s economy. But he drew a clear distinction between those mines that produce the coal used to make steel and those that produce the coal that is burned to make energy.

On the latter, he said the industry would be affected as the world moved away from coal-fired power. But he talked up the importance of a “carefully managed plan” for that.

On the former, Mr Miles said: “We know there will be ongoing global demand for that coking coal and so we continue to support and encourage investment into those industries.”

Resources Minister Scott Stewart added: “Steelmaking coal is going to be needed for decades and decades and decades and we’ve got some of the best – in fact, we have got the best – in the world ... we’re going to need steelmaking coal for decades so your kids will have jobs in the coal industry for decades to come.”

Well, let’s hope so. But again, this is a government that has willingly put at risk that future. It is the mines that produce the steelmaking coal that are the ones who have been hit with the billions of dollars in extra – and unexpected – taxes in the past two years by this government. The thermal coal producers do not get enough cash for their product to be hit with Mr Dick’s super-profits tax.

It is a fine line Labor is walking here in the long-term. And it could also do them short-term damage.

One in six jobs in Queensland rely on the resources sector – more than half a million across the state. There are 61,000 Queenslanders who work directly for a mine.

Beyond that, the residents of most of the regional towns along the coast that the Labor Party will need to hold to be returned at the election in October know what reliance their communities have on a thriving resources sector.

But as we reported recently, the number of mining and energy companies planning to expand their Queensland operations over the next year has halved in the time since Mr Dick’s tax was imposed without fair warning – from 35 per cent to just 17 per cent. At the same time, the number of mining bosses who plan to boost their workforce here over the next year has dropped from 40 per cent to 28 per cent.

Soothing words can only do so much. It is your actions that matter.

HEALTH MAY BE ELECTION ISSUE

It is often said that the portfolio of Health is the poisoned chalice of any state cabinet – it being so complex and fraught that there is a rich history of premiers making their rivals their minister for health.

Enter Shannon Fentiman, who was handed the chalice by former premier Annastacia Palaszczuk early last year and who has found herself stuck with it after indicating during last December’s leadership contest that she was willing to stand against the eventual winner, and so now, Premier Steven Miles.

Having stared down opposition attacks on her commitment to transparency with hospital data earlier this week, Ms Fentiman wakes today to news that the Australian Medical Association is so fed up with the length of elective surgery lists in regional Queensland they have taken finding ways to fix the problem into their own hands.

“Doctors are justifiably worried that regional Queenslanders are missing out on necessary and important surgeries,” the AMA says in what are fighting words now less than six months from election day.

Health has not been leading the agenda after Ms Fentiman cleaned up the worst of the mess left by her predecessor, and concerns over cost of living and youth crime becoming more front-of-mind issues for voters.

But it could well still be a sleeper.

A YouGov poll 18 months ago found almost half of Queenslanders thought the standard of care at hospitals was going backwards.

This warning from the AMA suggests not much has changed.

Responsibility for election comment is taken by Chris Jones, corner of Mayne Rd & Campbell St, Bowen Hills, Qld 4006. Printed and published by NEWSQUEENSLAND (ACN 009 661 778). Contact details here