Both new mine investment and brownfield expansion are the stimulus for job creation and a significant number of new jobs are created through the Mining, Equipment, Technology and Services (METS) sector who construct and maintain these new and existing mines, he said.

“But with the approvals process becoming increasingly difficult and uncertain because of government legislation, the ultimate loser will be jobs for our state,” he said.

“The mining services sector in the Mackay and surrounding region is a world class supply chain and contributes significantly to the local and state economy.

“The indirect effect of legislation like we have seen passed this week is to weaken the outlook for these supply chains resulting in losses of jobs and critical skills.”

If the state government is serious about progressing jobs in the regions and encouraging future investment in our resources sector we must remove investor uncertainty and the crippling delay costs caused by litigation brought about by activists who seek to abuse the Court’s rightful process, Caruso said.