Latest news with #CrisafulliGovernment
News.com.au
27-05-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Queensland moves to future-proof resources sector
Falling coal prices prompt Queensland to accelerate shift into diversified resources Explorers gain active support from Crisafulli Government as they look to bring projects into development QMines and Zenith Minerals discuss how government backing is advancing their projects As coal prices continue to fall, Queensland — Australia's top coal producing state — is looking to diversify by increasing its push into other resources, targeting faster project approvals and rapid development. Closure of the Mt Isa copper smelter has been viewed as a major blow to Queensland's renowned Northwest Minerals Province and copper industry but the state's mining sector extends far beyond Mt Isa. With active support from the Crisafulli Government, central Queensland explorers say their respective projects are progressing faster towards development. This not only serves to fuel the state's economy but supports its transition to net zero, drives regional jobs and supercharges Queensland's critical minerals capability. At the heart of the coal to copper transition Copper explorer QMines (ASX:QML) is on its way to becoming a 10,000-20,000tpa copper equivalent producer at the Mt Chalmers copper-gold mine, with a pre-feasibility study last year indicating a 10.4-year project costing $191m with a 1.8-year payback and NPV of $373m. Since listing in May 2021, QML has acquired two projects, as well as five rural properties, drilled at least 40,000m and delivered seven resource upgrades at Mt Chalmers about 90km from Rockhampton. As part of its growth strategy, the company is working to double its planned production rate, focusing on the acquisition of regional deposits capable of supporting a centralised processing hub at Mt Chalmers, while also advancing exploration to expand and upgrade current resources and convert historical resources into reserves. Speaking with Stockhead, QML managing director Andrew Sparke said QMines saw itself right at the centre of the transition to critical metals. 'I need to start by saying coal is a very important contributor to the State Government purses, we have a lot of great coal mines that generate a lot of value for Queenslanders and Australia,' he said. 'But there is a transition going on and it puts us in a very good position given we own the historical Mt Chalmers copper-gold mine but also considering the flurry of acquisitions we've done in the Central Queensland region over the last couple of years. 'We've bought the high-grade copper-zinc project at Devlin Creek, which settled in September last year, and we've just announced the acquisition of the Mount Mackenzie project, all in the central Queensland region,' he said. 'What that means is, over time, there will be more and more jobs coming online from these newer energy transition metals as the world diversifies its energy mix. 'I think it's a great hedge for the Queensland community that we have a lot of these new energy metals in Queensland which can pick up the slack in terms of jobs, royalty funds, and also in terms of the engineering and industry capabilities the state has.' Speeding up the approvals process According to Sparke, the new Queensland Government is making a concerted effort to improve regulatory efficiency by simplifying permitting, reducing delays and expediting the approvals process. 'There's a new program underway at the moment that waives tenement holding costs for a period of five years,' he said. 'There're also some collaborative grants for new exploration ideas where they'll co-fund drilling for explorers to make new discoveries in this space, so they're doing a lot and being very proactive in terms of trying to foster these new energy transition metals. 'It's nice to see that change of perspective, that mining is important to the prosperity of Queensland and Australia and we need to co-exist to create jobs which leads to a better standard of living.' Support for Red Mountain drilling Multi-commodity explorer Zenith Minerals (ASX:ZNC) owns the Red Mountain project in central Queensland's Auburn Arch, a region known for its rich mineral endowment. Discovered by ZNC in 2017, the project presents significant gold and silver mineralisation, with associated copper and molybdenum at depth. The mineralisation is hosted within a large breccia pipe system and shares similarities to other major gold deposits such as Mt Wright, Mt Leyshon and Mt Rawdon. ZNC managing director Andrew Smith echoed QMines' view, noting that the world was undergoing a fourth industrial revolution marked by a shift from hydrocarbons to a renewable-based economy. 'Governments are recognising that the transition requires critical minerals and key elements such as such as copper and they're passing policies in Queensland and in the Federal Government to support these initiatives,' he said. 'What we're seeing on the ground is the pointy end of the stick, which is the recent grant that has enabled us to de-risk this project.' Last month, the company secured a $275,000 Queensland Government grant under Round 9 of the Collaborative Exploration Initiative (CEI) - a state program designed to encourage discovery of critical minerals - to support deep diamond drilling at Red Mountain, highlighting the project's strategic position in the search for critical and precious minerals. ZNC exploration manager Danny Greene said Queensland was quite unique in terms of the grant funding offered. 'Generally, with state funding, it's co-funded and is normally capped at 50% - the company pays 50% and the government pays 50% but in Queensland, they've gone the extra yard,' he said. 'They offer 100% of the funding and it's generally a bit more lenient on where you can allocate that funding as well, so they are super supportive in that regard.' Upcoming drilling at the project in July is designed to unlock the project's primary gold mineralisation, while also tapping into the copper and molybdenum mineralisation at depth. The company will target what it believes could be a significant gold system with copper and molybdenum as part of a potential broader porphyry-style, intrusion-related mineralising event.
Mercury
24-05-2025
- Automotive
- Mercury
Aus car parks: The new frontier in property investment
Thinking about diving into real estate investing but feeling a bit short on funds? Or perhaps you're looking for a low-risk way to dip your toes into the market? There's a world of options out there, especially if you're willing to think beyond the traditional four walls and a roof. Real estate investments come in various shapes and sizes, and one intriguing option gaining traction is carparking spaces. Investing in a set of painted white lines might sound a bit out there, but it's all about crunching the numbers. Whether it's a single spot or part of a larger complex managed by a company, buying a car space at the right price can offer a low-cost, low-maintenance entry into the property market. To help investors crunch the numbers on where to park their hard earned cash, Ray White Commercial has provided an in-depth look on how car parks perform across capital cities and where buyers stand to drive home the biggest investment returns. Here is what the data had to say. MORE NEWS Is your home the real breadwinner? $100k pay: Woman buys 3 vending machines 11 homes by 40: Migrant reveals Aus secret BRISBANE Brisbane CBD retains its position as Australia's most expensive parking market for the second consecutive year, with daily casual rates now averaging $80.84, surpassing Sydney's $77.00. This marks a significant shift in the Australian parking landscape, where Sydney had historically dominated as the premium market. The change reflects broader shifts in office attendance patterns and CBD vibrancy across Australian capital cities as workers continue adjusting their commuting habits post-pandemic. Brisbane's pricing strength stems from limited parking supply coupled with stronger office attendance, demonstrated by its relatively contained vacancy rate of 10.2 per cent and positive occupied stock change. What makes this even more remarkable is that Brisbane continues to command premium parking rates despite the Crisafulli Government making 50 cent public transport fares permanent across all TransLink networks in Queensland. However, beneath headline rates, Brisbane operators still offer substantial discounts of 55.5 per cent for online bookings and 57.9 per cent for early bird parkers, revealing continued competition for regular commuters despite the market's apparent strength. Read the full story here. MELBOURNE Melbourne presents perhaps the most concerning trajectory among major markets. Current daily rates of $64.43 have fallen below 2013 levels ($65.00), producing a negative growth rate over the 12-year period. This decline mirrors Melbourne's struggling office market, which maintains the highest vacancy rate among Australian CBDs at 18.0 per cent and continues to experience negative occupied stock change. Melbourne operators have responded with the country's deepest early bird discounts at 62.9 per cent, though online discounting remains surprisingly modest at just 15.1 per cent, suggesting a focus on capturing the dwindling population of regular commuters. Read the full story here. SYDNEY Sydney's market shows signs of recovery but remains below its 2023 peak of $85.05. With a 12.8 per cent office vacancy rate and positive, albeit modest, absorption figures, Sydney's parking ecosystem appears relatively balanced but lacks the growth momentum seen before the pandemic. Sydney maintains significant discounts for both online bookings (-43.5 per cent) and early bird parking (-54.9 per cent), indicating ongoing competition despite the market's gradual improvement. Read the full story here. ADELAIDE Adelaide has recorded the highest 12-month growth rate in parking at 11.3 per cent, despite a high office vacancy of 16.4 per cent. Its discounting strategy remains moderate, with 15.5 per cent for online bookings and 37.4 per cent for early bird, indicating a market finding equilibrium. Read the full story here. PERTH Perth continues its steady improvement with 3.8 per cent annual daily rate growth and relatively substantial discounting for both online (-30.5 per cent) and early bird (-44.8 per cent) options. HOBART Hobart's parking market has experienced a concerning downward trend, with current rates at $18.83 sitting below 2013 levels ($21.00) and showing a negative 12-year annual growth rate of -0.86 per cent. The market offers modest online discounts of 20.4 per cent but notably provides no early bird options, reflecting its unique position as a smaller capital with limited commuter patterns despite having the lowest office vacancy rate among all Australian CBDs at just 3.6 per cent. CANBERRA Canberra presents an interesting case with modest but steady growth in parking rates to $21.64, despite ongoing decentralisation of government departments away from the traditional Civic centre. Operators in the capital offer minimal discounting compared to other markets, with online rates discounted just 9.9 per cent and early bird options at 13.8 per cent, suggesting less pressure to fill capacity despite the 9.2 per cent office vacancy rate.
News.com.au
20-05-2025
- Politics
- News.com.au
Queensland government introduces major law change to limit 'good character' evidence at sexual assault trials in huge overhaul
The Queensland Government has revealed a major overhaul of the state's sentencing laws – with 'good character' evidence set to be limited as part of the reform of how sexual violence cases are sentenced. The proposed reforms include limiting the use of 'good character' evidence in court, formally recognising the harm caused to victims, and requiring courts to treat offences against children more seriously. It follows recommendations from the Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council's final report on sentencing for sexual assault and rape offences. Attorney-General Deb Frecklington said the amendments mark a significant shift in the state's approach to sentencing sexual offences. 'These changes send a clear message that under the Crisafulli Government, victims are being put first,' Ms Frecklington said. 'No one wants to hear that a rapist is all-round great person, a trustworthy mate, or that they're respected in the community, especially not their victim, bravely sitting in court.' She explained that the reforms mean an offender's 'good character' can only be considered as a mitigating factor if it is relevant to their prospects of rehabilitation or likelihood of reoffending. 'It is a major change from where we are now, but I believe a very necessary one, to give victims the respect they deserve.' Another key amendment is the introduction of a new aggravating factor requiring courts to treat sexual offences against children aged 16 or 17 as more serious. This reflects both the increased harm experienced by young victims and the higher culpability of the offender. 'When the victim of sexual violence is a child, we know that Queenslanders expect to see the gravity of that crime reflected in the sentence handed down,' Ms Frecklington said. The bill also addresses concerns from the Sentencing Advisory Council that some victims may avoid providing a victim impact statement out of fear it could affect sentencing outcomes. The new laws ensure no negative inference will be drawn if a victim chooses not to make such a statement. 'Victims and community safety are an absolute priority for the Crisafulli Government, and I want to thank the Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council and the Secretariat for their work,' Ms Frecklington added. The amendments to the Penalties and Sentences Act 1992 are now before parliament.
News.com.au
20-05-2025
- Politics
- News.com.au
Brittany Higgins slams QLD government for pausing workplace sexual harassment reform
Former political staffer and sexual-assault survivor Brittany Higgins has slammed the Queensland government for delaying action on workplace harassment reforms. Ms Higgins posted a scathing statement to X and Instagram where she criticised the Crisafulli government for pausing workplace harassment reforms that were designed to strengthen Queensland's Anti-Discrimination Act. 'The Queensland State Government has indefinitely paused the 'positive duty' workplace sexual harassment reforms that were set to come into effect this year,' she wrote. 'There has been extensive community consultation over years. By pausing this legislation indifferently, without any clear explanation, just further proves the government isn't taking the concerns of the women in their state seriously. 'This shouldn't be a partisan issue. Every day the Crisafulli Government delays taking action, more Queenslanders face risk at work.' The positive duty reforms would mean that businesses, organisations and government agencies have a legal requirement to prevent harmful conduct rather than respond to problems after they occur. Positive duty is a feature of anti-discrimination law in Victoria, the ACT, the Northern Territory and at federal level. The Respect at Work reforms were due to begin in Queensland on July 1 after they were passed by the former Labor government in September 2024. However, LNP Attorney-General Deb Frecklington announced a pause to the laws on March 14, saying the planned start date did not allow sufficient time for consultation. The laws were a key recommendation of the Queensland Human Rights Commission's review into the Anti-Discrimination Act 1991, tabled in parliament in September 2022. According to the review led by human rights commissioner Scott McDougall, positive duty is 'an obligation on a person or organisation to take active steps to prevent discrimination and sexual harassment before it happens'. 'These steps are a proactive means to ensure that organisations are working to protect people from discrimination,' he said. Ms Higgins' public statement follows a highly publicised defamation trial where Justice Michael Lee found, on the balance of probabilities, that her colleague Bruce Lehrmann sexually assaulted her inside Parliament House on the morning of March 23, 2019. Lehrmann maintains his innocence and is appealing the decision. On Tuesday morning, Labor MP Shannon Fentiman slammed the Queensland government for shelving the reforms, telling 4BC's Peter Fegan 'I think this new government does have a women's problem'. 'They're not interested in delivering for women, but of course, it's not just women,' Ms Fentiman said. 'As I said, a whole lot of blokes out there also experience sexual harassment, and it's just not good enough. 'There's no excuse.'
News.com.au
19-05-2025
- Politics
- News.com.au
‘Broken' $1b child safety system sparks inquiry
The Queensland government has announced a commission of inquiry into the state's care system which it says is failing children and leading them to fall into crime, abuse and despair. The Crisafulli government on Sunday announced a commission of inquiry, to be headed by Paul Anastassiou KC, to examine the state's 'broken' child safety system which it says has ballooned to cost taxpayers over a billion dollars a year. It cited 2024 census findings that of children entering out of home care, 11 per cent had been sexually abused, 46 per cent had been physically abused and 88 per cent had been neglected. The government said that children who enter the care system before their tenth birthday have much poorer outcomes including mental health issues, self harm, are more likely to develop a disability and have higher rates of limited intellectual functioning. The government said that 61 per cent of children in residential care had been expelled or suspended from school. In Queensland there are more than 12,500 children living in out-of-home care and the government says it will cost $1.12b this financial year to run the system. It claimed that one teen's care costs $2.6m a year while another cost $2.3m, putting the blame at the feet of previous Labor governments. The government says more than 100 of the state's serious youth offenders were living in out-of-home care. The commission of inquiry will examine whether the care system is equipped to deal with serious youth offenders and high-risk children, and whether their care has contributed to their offending. 'We often hear of the crime vortex caused by young offenders living in residential care, where they cause others they live with to follow them into criminal behaviours and it is important to investigate and further understand how the system has played a part in that,' child safety minister Amanda Camm said. 'The Crisafulli Government is committed to keeping the community safe and this is a crucial moment in time to make serious generational changes to a system that has been left to languish under Labor. 'In the past decade thousands of children have been let down by the former government who did not care enough to investigate how children in care were becoming entrenched in the youth justice system.'
