Greens Pledge to Set Up State-Owned Mining Company, Includes Indigenous Worker Quota

The Queensland branch of the left-wing Greens party have pledged to set up a state-owned mining company near a major mining town in the state’s north-west. The proposal would be funded by increasing coal and gas royalties, estimated to net $4 billion (US$2.6 billion). The company will also need to make sure 15 percent of its workforce is comprised of Indigenous employees. The state Member for Maiwar Michael Berkman took to social media on Sept. 11 to announce the move. “It’ll invest in critical minerals and return the profits to Queenslanders,” he wrote. The proposed “Queensland Minerals” would focus on minerals essential to the net zero transition including zinc, cobalt, copper, lead, and gold. It will be based in the North West Minerals Province (NWMP) near Mount Isa....