Thousands of high paying coal jobs remain on the brink while the LNP blindly continue Labor’s crippling royalties scheme, the Leader of the KAP and state Member for Traeger Robbie Katter has said.
Mr Katter, speaking in Mackay sounded the alarm that while Queensland kept the developed world’s highest taxing coal royalty scheme in place, whole regions throughout Central Queensland are at risk of serious decline.
“Big coal companies need to pay their way and contribute to the state, but when the top tier of Queensland’s royalties are nearly four times the rate of New South Wales, it’ll be no surprise when investment and jobs start heading south across the border,” Mr Katter said.
“The KAP are looking at how to challenge parliament, to give all MPs a chance to support coal regions and their coal workers, contractors, and suppliers. Investment needs to be kept in Queensland.
“Our state was built on the back of our natural endowment of coal resource, yet successive governments now seem determined to drive coal investment out of the state. KAP won’t stand by and watch Rome burn.
“Industry have told me they are open to a range of models and aren’t even advocating to go back to the pre-2022 system. They just want a system that invites investment in Queensland, not actively drives it away.
“The government’s spin doctors are running around announcing new mine approvals, but they are simply sandbagging the jobs that are already there.
“Since September 2025 there have been nearly 1,500 jobs lost due to closures. Coal prices are down, but with the exchange rate the way it is, some operations are still paying the top tier of royalties.
“What most people don’t understand, is royalties are not paid on profits, they’re paid on what is sold. So, with the cost of everything going up, and some of the highest royalties in the world, companies are looking for cheaper places to do business – away from Queensland,” he said.
Coal is Queensland’s largest export commodity, supporting 48,000 direct jobs and spending $24 billion across more than 7,500 businesses in 2024-25.
“The impact of royalties isn’t just on the profitability of mining companies, it’s the flow on effect on towns and regions across Queensland,” Mr Katter said.
“Small businesses servicing equipment, local shops, schools, community groups, they all take a hit whenever jobs are lost in the mines.
“When the industry contributes 15% of the state’s gross regional product, the LNP need to wake up and not just blame Labor’s royalties – they’re in government now and have all the power to make sensible changes that will keep investment here and keep coal companies paying a fair share.
“The LNP have a choice – oversee the demise of the industry that build this state, or they can step in and fix the mess that Labor have wreaked on regional communities,” the KAP leader said.