The North Queensland Miners Association (NQMA), Queensland Small Miners Council, and Queensland Opal Miners Association recently met with the newly appointed Minister for Natural Resources and Mines, Dale Last MP, and Minister for Environment and Tourism, Andrew Powell MP, in Brisbane.
This was the first opportunity to meet with the Ministers following the Liberals’ election win in October 2024 and their swearing-in on 1 November 2024. Discussions focused on key industry issues and the Ministers’ plans to address them.
AMETS Senior Tenement Manager, Tamara Grothues, represented the NQMA during these vital discussions. She confirmed an exciting development for the sector: the reinstatement of the Queensland Small Miners Council (QSMC) Forum. This bi-annual forum will enable small-scale mining representatives to raise concerns, provide advice on legislative and regulatory matters, and work collaboratively to ensure the industry not only survives but thrives.
This commitment to ongoing dialogue is a positive step toward creating a sustainable future for Queensland’s small-scale miners.
Photo:
Dale Last MP (Minister for Natural Resources and Mines), Tamara Grothues (AMETS/NQMA), Kevin Phillips (QLD Small Miners Council, QLD Opal Miners Association), Alison Summerville (President, QLD Boulder Opal Association) and Andrew Powell MP (Minister for the Environment and Tourism)
