‘Fake promise’: LNP says Collinsville cash was in good faith

A day after the company behind a controversial Queensland coal-fired power station said the Morrison Government has ‘gaslighted’ them, Coalition MPs say they are in talks to get more funding for the project. But Labor has labelled this ‘a fake promise’.

Coalition MPs say they are in talks to secure more funding for the controversial Collinsville coal-fired power station, after the company behind the bid blasted the Morrison Government for “gaslighting” them on its future.

But Labor say it’s a “fake promise” to get through the election.

Ashley Dodd, CEO of Shine Energy – the group behind the project – this week criticised the government for leaving the future of the project three years after promising to fund its feasibility study, which remains ongoing.

Ashley Dodd, CEO of Shine Energy, which is proposing to build a new coal-fired power station in Collinsville. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/The Australian

He accused the Morrison Government for “gaslighting North Queensland” and for using the project as a “political chess pawn”.

Capricornia MP Michelle Landry, whose electorate the project would be in, said she and Senator Matt Canavan were speaking with Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, thought admitted it was not likely to happen this side of the election.

“I would love to see it proceed. We’re working to get extra funding for him, we’ve been speaking with Barnaby Joyce about that,” Ms Landry said.

She said she disagreed with Mr Dodd’s comments, though understood his frustration.

“We went into this in good faith,” she said.

Capricornia MP Michelle Landry. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Opposition North Queensland and Resources spokesman Murray Watt said the Collinsville feasibility study had been a “fake promise”.

“Scott Morrison and Barnaby Joyce sold Queenslanders snake oil by promising a new coal-fired power station. It was always a lie, and that’s becoming clearer by the day,” he said.

“After setting up a fake promise to get them through an election, Morrison and Joyce have abandoned Shine Energy, just like they’ve abandoned bushfire victims, flood victims and so many more.”

The new coal-fired power station is likely to go at the same site or near to the old station.

Herbert MP Phil Thompson, who has been a vocal support of the project, said Labor and the Greens had sought to block funding for the feasibility study.

“I’ve known Ashley Dodd for a long time, you’ll never meet a more passionate person than him,” he said.

“This is going through the same stages of feasibility that other projects do and I’m hoping it comes back very successful.”