Clive Palmer breaks silence on coal mine refusal

Mining magnate Clive Palmer has broken his silence on the Albanese Government moving to knock back his proposed Queensland coal mine, saying “to reject $80 billion shows economic irresponsibility”.

Mining magnate Clive Palmer has broken his silence on the Albanese Government moving to knock back his proposed central Queensland coal mine, accusing Labor of being “irrational” and “captured by the Greens”.

Mr Palmer’s Central Queensland Coal Project, located 130km northwest of Rockhampton, was expected to create $8.2 billion in export from thermal and metallurgical coal.

Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek earlier this month issued a preliminary refusal of approval for the project due to it being just 10km from the Great Barrier Reef, with a 10 business day public comment period required before being finalised.

Clive Palmer has lashed out at the Federal Government refusing approval for his Central Queensland Coal Project. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

That period ended on Thursday evening and a spokesman for Mr Palmer confirmed his company had made a submission.

But in a statement on Sunday morning, Mr Palmer claimed it was “the first time in Australian history” a coal mine in central Queensland had been refused approval.

He said it showed the Greens were running the government.

“To reject $80 billion shows economic irresponsibility,’’ Mr Palmer said.

“Especially so when the entire production was destined for export markets and the alternative is the replacement in the market of inferior Indonesian coal which will result in three times greater emissions than what would have been the case with our coal.

“It’s clear the Albanese Government is irrational and is captured by Adam Bant and The Greens.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Picture: Geordi Offord

He seemed to attempt to link the situation with former Prime Minister Scott Morrison having issued himself five secret portfolios by asking “how many secret portfolios has (Mr Albanese) given to (Greens leader) Adam Bandt”.

There is no indication Mr Albanese has issued any “secret portfolios” and he has strongly condemned the actions of Mr Morrison in doing so.

The Greens are continuing to push for a ban on new coal mines and coal-fired power stations.

Special Envoy for the Great Barrier Reef Senator Nita Green said Mr Palmer had to pass the same environmental approvals as anyone else, and refuted the billionaire’s claims that Labor was “captured by the Greens”.

“I have not seen the reasons for the proposed decision, but I am fully aware that poor water quality is an ongoing risk to the Reef and the jobs it supports. It’s up to any proponent to show how they can mitigate such risks,” Senator Green said.

“Labor’s policy position is not the same as the Greens, as much as it suits Mr Palmer to make those claims. Australians voted to end the climate wars, not for the type of politics Mr. Palmer is trying to pursue.”

Mr Albanese has previously said each approval was based on merit, and that the Palmer proposal had been declined due to it being just 10km from the Great Barrier Reef, not because of any demands from the Greens.

“The Greens have a different position from Labor on these issues,” Mr Albanese said earlier this month.