Clive Palmer lashes out at Queensland Premier after feds cancel Central Queensland coal mine

Clive Palmer has taken a personal swipe at Annastacia Palaszczuk over his rejected Central Queensland coal mine and warned he would take “action”.

Clive Palmer has taken a personal swipe at Annastacia Palaszczuk over his rejected Central Queensland coal mine, accusing her of being “more interested in her boyfriend” than being Premier.

The controversial Gold Coast billionaire also warned he would take “action” over the Albanese Government’s decision to block the mine.

Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek announced this week that she would not allow the proposed Waratah Coal mine, northwest of Rockhampton, because of “unacceptable” impacts on surrounding areas including the Great Barrier Reef.

It marked the first time Australia’s environmental laws have been used to block a coal project.

Clive Palmer. Picture: supplied.

Speaking at a media conference on Friday to promote a series of “sold-out” Covid-19 vaccine conferences he’s hosting, the mining tycoon flagged unspecified “action” over the mine’s refusal.

“There will be action taken but I can’t really talk about that,” he said.

“I’m not the sort of person that doesn’t do anything as you probably realise from my history.”

Mr Palmer also took a shot at Premier Palaszczuk’s silence on the issue.

“She’s lost interest,” he said.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and her partner Dr Reza Adib.

“She’s been premier for too long and she’s more interested in her boyfriend. That’s why we haven’t heard from her – I’m sure she’ll appreciate that comment.”

Mr Palmer said the rejection of the mine was “par for the course for the Labor Party”.

He said the decisions was all about doing deals with the Greens to get legislation through federal parliament.

The site of the proposed Central Queensland Coal Project near St Lawrence. Picture: CQ Coal

“If we smash Palmer and the coal in Queensland you’ll support our legislation going through,” he said of federal Labor and the Greens.

“We have to have a lot of compassion for the people and the families of the coal fields,” he said.

“The Labor Party says one thing – that they support coal – and they do things like this.

“What’s going to happen to our country? What’s going to happen to the economy?”

Mr Palmer said the mine’s rejection came at a time when mortgage payments and costs of living were soaring and people were struggling to “put bread and butter on the table”.

“These are decisions that affect the whole community, affect our standard of living,” he said.

“Queensland is the world’s biggest coal exporter, that’s the reality. Are we going to close the coal industry down?

“Three hundred and fifty thousand people are going to lose their livelihood. Are their children not going to be able to go to school, are bankruptcies going to increase, is demand going to spiral down?

“The reality is this is not about me, I can look after my family – it’s about the people of this state.”

Queensland Conservation Council director Dave Copeman said Mr Palmer’s claims that other mines had been built near the Reef didn’t stack up.

“The Ogmore mine they referred to in the documentation refers to a 1920s underground shaft... that was brought in 70 years before the EPBC Act,” he said.

“(The Central Queensland Coal Project) was rejected on grounds of impact to the Reef and seagrass beds from sediments that would flow into water courses.

“It might make a nice United Australia Party post but he’s not bringing up examples that have any validity.”

Ms Palaszczuk’s office has been contacted for comment.