The Hon Mark Bailey MP, Minister for Transport and Main Roads, writes about the topics of shipping, and coastal shipping in Queensland:
2020 saw COVID-19 impact economies around the world, including both in Australia and Queensland.
But, a strong health response from Queenslanders meant the shipping industry could continue to operate and that the Palaszczuk Government could get on with the job of investing in our 16 trade ports, as part of the State’s plan for economic recovery.
The efforts of industry, maritime authorities and Government saw shipping inject more than $114.4 billion into Queensland’s economy, with 11,388 vessels able to enter Queensland waters from January to mid-November – getting vital exports to markets across the globe, and crucial goods into the State.
Our publicly owned ports in places like Townsville, Gladstone and the Far North collectively, facilitated more than 242 million tonnes of throughput, supporting thousands of jobs across various industries.
Those figures alone show just how important shipping is to Queensland’s economic recovery and why the Palaszczuk Government is committed to growing our ports, tourism and trade.
