The nine-member taskforce, which was launched in March by the Minister for Resources and Northern Australia, Matt Canavan, is preparing recommendations for the Australian Government on how to ensure our resources sector remains globally competitive and sustainable into the future.

Led by Andrew Cripps, the former Queensland Minister for Natural Resources, the taskforce will provide its recommendations to the Minister at the end of August.

It is conducting a series of information gathering roundtables.

Mayor Joyce McCulloch, who is a taskforce member, participated in the communities roundtable in Mount Isa on Monday May 21, one of the first roundtables to be held nationally.

The Australian Government will use the taskforce’s report to develop a National Resources Statement in the latter half of 2018.

When launching the taskforce, Minister Canavan said “The work of the taskforce will focus on ensuring a strong future for the resources sector, both in the areas where we already have a global advantage, and in the development of new minerals and new markets.

“The resource sector is an area in which we can truly lead the world. But we cannot afford to be complacent as new competitors enter the market.”

The members of the taskforce are:

Mr Andrew Cripps, former Queensland Minister for Natural Resources (Chair)

Mr Mike Henry, President Operations, Minerals Australia, BHP

Ms Joyce McCulloch, Mayor, Mount Isa City Council

Dr Chris Pigram, former CEO of Geoscience Australia

Mr Will Robinson, Managing Director, Encounter Resources Limited

Ms Erica Smyth, Chair, NOPSEMA Advisory Board

Mr Paul Flynn, CEO and Managing Director, Whitehaven Coal

Prof. Marcia Langton, Foundation Chair, Australian Indigenous Studies, Faculty of Medicine, University of Melbourne

Ms Adrienne Rourke, General Manager, Resource Industry Network.