In its 2008-09 Budget submission, the QRC said the Queensland Government needed to move beyond the role of broker, facilitator and business case assessor.

QRC chief executive Michael Roche said the government could reduce financial pressures from debt funding of infrastructure by reducing its traditional role in areas underwritten by industry commitments such as ‘take or pay' contracts - a common tool in financing the construction of resources infrastructure.

"By further questioning government-owned corporations' investments in large-scale infrastructure projects and the provision of services that the private sector could deliver equally well or more efficiently, the government could move to lead in areas of genuine market failure that continue to restrain the growth of Queensland," Roche said.

He warned that infrastructure services to resources-rich northwest Queensland would remain in limbo if the government maintained its current approach.

"The Queensland Government, in conjunction with the Federal Government, industry and the private investment sector, must be prepared to shoulder more risk for leading investments in necessary infrastructure and policy implementations that establish long-term investment frameworks for private sector operations, and still secure investment returns to the state," he said.

"No other stakeholder can effectively play this role for Queensland."

The QRC has also called for the introduction of a state-wide energy conservation program to reduce carbon emissions.