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Everyday Queenslanders from across the state will be the new face of the Keep Queensland Competitive campaign, highlighting the damage being done to their businesses and jobs by the world's highest coal royalty taxes.
Launching the next round of the campaign today, Queensland Resources Council CEO Janette Hewson said the "Everyday Queenslanders" advertisements would demonstrate the impact on regional and rural communities of sudden increases in tax rates.
"Up until now, the Keep Queensland Competitive campaign has focused on the facts and figures - showing how suddenly introducing the world's highest royalties has led to billions of dollars of projects being cancelled or postponed," Ms Hewson said.
"Now we are handing the microphone to the everyday Queenslanders who are feeling the effects of those cancellations in their businesses and jobs.
"These are retail workers, publicans, farmers, trucking business owners, fencers, electrical engineers, admin officers and apprentices. They come from across regional parts of the state, including Clermont, Mackay, Charters Towers and Moranbah.
"They all rely on a strong and confident resources sector to help their local businesses thrive and to secure their local jobs. And their message is simple: they want politicians to sit down and have a genuine discussion about finding a fair and competitive level for royalties.
"That's what the sector has been asking for over the last two years, with little response from the government. Hopefully they will listen to these everyday Queenslanders who want the same thing."
Ms Hewson said this round of the campaign would start tonight (June 9th) and run through until the state election on October 26.
She said the message would be focused most strongly on regional areas of the state where businesses rely on a strong and stable resources sector, and would run across TV, radio, digital and outdoor platforms.
"We know that our campaign has resonated across the state, and our research shows that people everywhere have agreed with our message that when you hurt Queensland's resources sector you hurt Queensland.
"However, we are now severely limited by the government's third-party electoral spending laws, so we intend to focus our efforts over the next five months in those parts of the state where everyday Queenslanders are feeling the greatest impact.
"We continue to invite both sides of politics to sit down with the sector and come up with a fair and sustainable royalties regime, that keeps Queensland competitive and protects and grows jobs and opportunities for everyday Queenslanders."
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