Origin and BHP, two of the biggest resource sector companies operating in Queensland have so far refused to rejoin the Queensland Resources Council.

The two corporates walked out of the QRC in the state election campaign after it pressed ahead with an advertising campaign attacking the Greens and urging voters to put the party’s candidates last on the ballot.

The two companies said at the time they were opposed to the campaign because it attacked a party rather than individual policies that had previously been the rule, however, the QRC pointed out that a previous industry campaign on the Australia-wide mining tax had played a large part in ending the Rudd government.

Both companies said their positions had not changed and their voluntary suspension from the QRC was still in place. Neither have said what it would take for them to return.

The QRC said the “the process is continuing and we are optimistic about the matter being resolved”.

The stand-off leaves the companies outside the lobbying power of the QRC at a crucial time with the coal sector facing coal bans from the industry’s biggest customer, China and crucial moves likely to be made in the next four years relating to climate change, the north-west minerals province and the Galilee Basin.