Queensland’s Minister for Natural Resources and Mines, Dr Anthony Lynham, today (17 Feb) announced government will reduce by up to 50 percent, the expenditure that explorers are required to make under their minerals exploration permits.

The Queensland Resource Council (QRC) welcomed the announcement, stating that the Government’s initiative will provide much needed relief to mineral explorers across the state in places like Cape York, Mount Isa and operations west of Townsville and Cairns.

The QRC proposed that the announcement as an example of how government can partner with industry to provide incentive and some breathing space in tough times without providing a handout or subsidies. QRC also welcomes the fact that the Minister is investigating extending this policy to coal explorers whose circumstances are really no different to that of mineral explorers.