China's growth will underpin growth in resources demand, says Macfarlane FEDERAL Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane says he is optimistic about Chinese growth underpinning demand for resources. "If we look at not just China, but Japan and Korea, and new markets like India, South East Asia, and globally, I think you also have to include the US, so globally I think we are going to see some positive demand growth," Mr Macfarlane told a resources conference in Canberra this morning. The mining boom is not over - perhaps there has been a slowdown of the construction boom of new projects, but there will be an increase of production of things like coal and iron ore and LNG. The minister said he planned to travel to Japan, China, Korea and Taiwan before parliament resumed. "I want to make sure Australia is seen as a country that is a great place to invest and make profit for your shareholders but also provide jobs for everyone in the Australian community," he said. Mr Macfarlane said he was keen to see massive Queensland coal mines - which if developed as planned would be the nation's biggest - being studied by the likes of India's Adani, Gina Rinehart in partnership with India's GVK, and Clive Palmer, go ahead. "We need to make sure we develop our low-cost coal opportunities, particularly in the Galilee Basin (where those potential 20 million to 30 million tonnes-per-year operations sit)," he said. With regard to domestic policy, Mr Macfarlane said he was finalising the terms of a white paper that he hoped to have out by September next year and was working with Environment Minister Greg Hunt to review the Renewable Energy Target. He said the coal seam gas situation in New South Wales was, along with issues at Holden, one of the most difficult issues he was dealing with. Electricity market reform and a crackdown on "use-it-or-lose-it"provisions for offshore gas fields, continuing a push started by Labour resources minister Martin Ferguson, were also on his agenda, he said.