Qld to diversify into aeronautical space

No longer in and under the ground, the future of Queensland jobs lies in the air.

That's according to the state's natural resources and mining minister who says the aeronautical sector looms as the industry for workers hit hard by the end of the mining boom.

Dr Anthony Lynham released a discussion paper at Brisbane Airport on Tuesday, which will act as a "10-year roadmap" for the creation of jobs.

Dr Lynham stressed Queensland had a strong aeronautical sector and said it was expected to grow in coming years and Brisbane could become an Asia-Pacific hub.

"Over the next 20 years it is envisaged that the world will require 35,000 new aircraft," he told reporters.

"Also we have the growing middle class in China and India and all those people will want to travel, specifically I hope they want to travel to Queensland."

Dr Lynham called on workers in the mining, technology and engineering sectors to consider diversifying their skills so they could transfer to the aeronautical and biofuel industries.

"These are the jobs of the future," he said.

"We will assist to diversify people into these high-tech industries."

The announcement came at the same time as the Australian Conservation Federation commenced legal action against federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt and Adani to stop the construction of the Carmichael coal mine in Queensland's Galilee Basin.

Dr Lynham rejected the notion the state government was fed up with court bids to stop the mine going ahead, instead saying it respected the views of conservation groups to protect the environment.