Voice of community speaks out on regional town's mining win

Kel Appleton says Clermont proved its point with the result of the Federal election

OPPOSITION: The Clermont community protests against the Bob Brown-led Anti Adani Convoy on Herschel St near the showgrounds on April 27. Picture: Steve Pohlner/AAP

"SCOTT Morrison has a good feel about him.”

That's the view of Kel Appleton, Clermont's Grand Hotel publican who, in the lead-up to the Federal election, became the voice of the people of Central and North Queensland.

He spoke out for the communities and families that rely on the coal industry to survive.

It started as a rumour, that Bob Brown and his Stop Adani Convoy would come to the heart of coal country. They would set up camp at the showgrounds and bring their message of a green future to the people of Clermont.

Looking at the election results from Clermont polling booths, one thing is clear - the community had made up its mind about the future of their region and it included coal.

Mr Appleton said in the lead-up to the election there had been too many people trying to tell the Clermont community how to live their lives.

"They (the community) spent time trying to raise their kids and make their money. All of these people (the convoy) funded and paid to come and tell us everything we do, everything we do to keep our kids honest ... everything we believe is the right thing to do - they want to tell us it's not right,” he said.

"I think it got the better of people in Clermont, that some idiot comes up and tells us everything we're doing is wrong, and they just took a stance.”

Now, Mr Appleton is sure the community did the right thing. He said with Scott Morrison at the helm of the Federal Government he was a little more positive about Australia's economic future.

"I think he (Morrison) will generally try to make it (Australia) a better place.

"You've got Anthony Albanese running around to see where they went wrong.

"It went wrong because you come up here and rubbish the coal industry.”

Now, with only one Adani Carmichael Mine environmental approval left, the community of Clermont may get what they campaigned for.

Mr Appleton said the mine would bring positive job options for people in Clermont, Alpha, Jericho, Longreach and more. "Those communities are the same or closer than Rockhampton,” he said. "(At the moment) they've got nothing to fall back on. (The Galilee Basin) is a chance to employ people from over the country.”

Mr Appleton said the result of the election proved one thing.

"It goes to show you can't believe a thing you hear,” he said.

Originally published as Voice of community speaks out on regional town's mining win