I was pleased today to meet Queensland Premier Rob Borbidge and Deputy Premier Joan Sheldon for the first time since the Government was sworn in.
Queensland is central to the future prosperity of our nation. It is a state whose high population growth and expanding economic base is built on a strong-small business sector.
I am confident that there will be close cooperation between governments in Canberra and Brisbane.
I completely agree with the Queensland Government that the Century Zinc Mine should go ahead and urge that all the parties involved cooperate to resolve outstanding issues. I support the Premier's efforts to bring the parties together to seek a successful outcome for
the stakeholders, Queensland, and the national economy.
Mr Borbidge, Mrs Sheldon and I canvassed a number of other issues including national competition policy and Commonwealth-State financial relations.
The Premier indicated that his government was examining a range of options for electricity generation in Far North Queensland. It was agreed that the Tully-Millstream or any related proposals would not go ahead unless they met stringent environmental standards.
This is in keeping with my commitment at the National Press Club during the election campaign that Tully-Millstream would not go ahead if it were to cause significant environmental damage.
19 March 1996