Lucas stresses mining town infrastructure needs
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Queensland's Acting Premier says it is important for mining towns to have proper facilities.
Paul Lucas has visited Moranbah, Dysart and Emerald on Wednesday ahead of summits on mining issues to be held in regional Queensland later this year.
He says times have changed since the 1970s when mining companies built whole towns for their workers.
"They built the pub, they built the swimming pool, they built the library, they built everything," he said.
"Now the world has changed, but people want to have those facilities. It's not just good enough to say, 'okay you're a miner, you're well paid', without saying, 'well what are the school facilities like, what are the social facilities like?' Don't just whack up tent cities outside mines, we're not in the gold rush in America in the 1800s."
