There were rumours that Australia’s richest woman Gina Rinehart, boss of Western Australian iron ore giant Hancock Prospecting would be in attendance to give the keynote address at the John Middlin Centre though she was a late cancellation.

Instead she sent a posse of directors including the Professor Ian Plimer, the notorious climate change denier.

I was not there to hear his speech but I understand that thankfully Professor Plimer steered clear of his bete noir topic and instead concentrated on a vigorous defence of the value of mining to the Australian economy.

Professor Plimer also hailed the appointment of Ian Macfarlane as the new chief executive officer of the Queensland Resources Council replacing long-standing and retiring boss Michael Roche.

Mr Macfarlane has big shoes to fill after Mr Roche’s impressive advocacy of the mining industry for well over a decade but it is hard to think of a more appropriate replacement.

The 61-year-old Mr Macfarlane is a former government minister twice over.

He served for John Howard in the early 2000s as small business minister, and then industry, tourism and resources minister.

Then when the Abbott government was elected in 2013 he became industry minister (later adding science to his portfolio).

His political career was cut short when an attempted move from the Liberal to the National party room saw him demoted from cabinet and he did not stand again this year.

But his list of portfolios stand him in good stead for the battles ahead and his knowledge of the workings of Canberra will be vital for the QRC.

***

Don’t forget the Mayor’s Christmas Wine Tree event on at the Civic Centre this Saturday night.

It promises to be a fun night and it raises money in a great cause, the Children’s Ward at the Mount Isa Hospital.

Tickets are $120 at the Civic Centre Box Office.

See you there. DB