The resource sector is the 'engine room' of Queensland's economy

The Courier Mail's Editor Chris Jones delivers the welcome address at the Future Resources Event in Queensland. "The engine room of the state is the resource sector," Mr Jones said. "It directly employs 80,000 Queenslanders; really importantly, 70 per cent of those are in the regions. "Contributes $85 billion to the state's economy … the royalties returned to the state government underpins the strength of the state's budget. "What you guys do pays for schools, hospitals, roads, police, teachers, doctors, nurses, whatever, it's all this great stuff the state government does."