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Highlights
Queensland Government ends CEI grant scheme in 2025 State Budget
AMEC warns cutbacks may limit future exploration and regional growth
Copperstring project receives increased focus amid clean energy goals
The Queensland Government has moved to reshape its resources policy in the 2025 State Budget, scrapping the Collaborative Exploration Initiative (CEI) amid declining royalties from traditional mining outputs. This adjustment affects key regions aligned with the All Ordinaries index and may shift focus from coal exports to emerging resource segments such as copper.
Industry stakeholders have expressed concern that reduced funding for early-stage exploration may affect future project pipelines and regional development, particularly in the state’s north-west.
Mining Leaders Disappointed by CEI Withdrawal
The Association of Mining and Exploration Companies (AMEC) acknowledged its disappointment following the cessation of the CEI, a program that had supported mineral exploration efforts across Queensland over several years. The group emphasised the importance of grassroots exploration, especially in copper-rich zones critical to future energy infrastructure.
The CEI had been viewed as a key enabler for uncovering new mineral projects and supporting resource-led economic contributions beyond the state’s coal-heavy export profile.
Royalties Drop Highlights Coal Revenue Reliance
Queensland’s revenue from mining royalties has declined in the latest financial year, primarily due to a fall in coal contributions. This drop has been linked to global pricing fluctuations and shifting demand, leading policymakers to reassess long-term fiscal planning in relation to mining revenue streams.
The lower income from coal royalties has intensified calls for greater diversification of the commodity base, with copper and other minerals seen as strategic for economic resilience.
Copperstring and Clean Energy Focus Intensify
In parallel with the end of the CEI program, the Queensland Government has allocated additional funding to expand the Copperstring infrastructure project. This investment is part of the broader transition to clean energy supply chains, where copper plays a central role in supporting electrification and renewables.
Industry groups have highlighted the potential of copper to serve as a long-term contributor to state revenue, jobs, and regional growth, especially through large-scale transmission projects that connect remote mineral deposits to national infrastructure.
Funding Continues for Mine Rehabilitation and Geoscience
Despite the retraction of exploration grants, funding remains in place for the Abandoned Mine Land Program. This initiative aims to manage and commercialise former mining sites while addressing environmental rehabilitation. Additional support will also go towards geoscience and digital data projects within the resources sector.
