Bligh welcomes 10,000 new jobs

Chris Ison

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PREMIER Anna Bligh welcomed the Federal Government’s decision on the future of two multi-billion dollar liquid natural gas projects in Gladstone on Curtis Island yesterday.

Making her announcement in Brisbane rather that Gladstone, Ms Bligh said the conditional environmental approval for both the $7.7 billion Santos/PETRONAS Gladstone LNG project and QGC Pty Ltd’s $8 billion Curtis LNG project would potentially mean 10,000 jobs for Queenslanders.

"This means jobs for a generation of Queenslanders," Ms Bligh said.

"It’s a world first – converting coal seam gas to liquid natural gas.

"This is great news for jobs, great news for the Gladstone region and great news for the Queensland economy."

Ms Bligh said the Government had promised to invest in jobs and new industries like LNG for Queensland.

“Pending final government approvals and investment decisions by the companies, work could possibly start on these two projects later this year,” Ms Bligh said.

Ms Bligh said the Queensland Government would continue to work with industry to ensure LNG projects are sustainable.

The State Government has already imposed stringent environmental conditions on the two projects.

“Along with the 300 new conditions imposed as part of the Federal Government’s approval, these are some of the most stringent environmental conditions ever imposed on an industry and its projects and that reflects our government’s commitment to strike the right balance between new developments and our precious environment."