Palaszczuk wants China trade issues resolved quickly, citing the importance of jobs.

Annastacia Palaszczuk says while trade tensions with China are a concern, demand for Qld resources will stay the course.

Annastacia Palaszczuk has conceded Queensland’s economy has taken a hit amid Australia’s escalating tensions with China.

But the Premier said the state’s trade relationship with China was strong and enduring based on a “long history of mutual respect”.

It comes ahead of Tuesday’s State Budget and after The Australian today reported more than 80 ships carrying more than $1.1 billion worth of Australian coal were stuck off the Chinese coast.

Australian coal ships.

It was also revealed coal exports to China had dropped by 96 per cent during the first three weeks of this month.

Ms Palaszczuk told today’s Queensland Resources Council annual lunch that while

resources had acted as an economic stabiliser for the state, Queensland wasn’t immune, with exports and the economy taking a hit.

“This hasn’t been helped by the recent trade issues with China as our largest trading partner,” she said.

“We are reliable and trusted suppliers of high-quality exports - and Chinese customers want to buy what we produce.”

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk at the Queensland Resources Council Annual Lunch at the Royal International Convention Centre, Bowen Hills on Friday, November 27, 2020. Picture: Richard Walker

Ms Palaszczuk said she hoped the issues were resolved as quickly as possible by the Federal Government, citing the importance of jobs both here and abroad.

“We will continue to raise issues with the Federal Government when we need to, such as what’s happening at the moment with coal ships off China,” she said.

“The last thing I want to see are mines shutting down in Queensland at the expense of Queensland jobs.

“We will fight for those jobs, we will work with the Federal Government because trade means jobs.”