New hope for Acland mine turns to election battle

Hundreds of coal mining jobs hang in the balance after courts found in favour a major Queensland mine expansion, as the issue threatens to burst into an election battle.

The fate of hundreds of coal mining jobs are hanging in the balance after the Land Court found in favour of the New Acland mine expansion going ahead – but activists are pledging to continue the 14-year legal warfare.

It is threatening to boil over into a political fight and election issue, amid calls for the Palaszczuk Government to back it to save the jobs or face accusations “Labor’s position against coal hasn’t changed”.

Hundreds of jobs have been made redundant at the New Acland mine while waiting for the stage 3 approval. Picture: Russell Shakespeare

After 14 years of legal challenges, including all the way to the High Court, the Land Court ruled New Hope Group’s New Acland mine near Oakey should be given approval with conditions including controls around noise and dust.

The project’s proponents say $7 billion in economic benefits and about 450 direct jobs will be created if it goes ahead.

But with the mine in care and maintenance, and 280 positions made redundant in the past three years and mining activities ending in November, it is understood it would take months from any approval before any jobs will be created.

A final decision will still be needed from the state’s co-ordinator-general and then the Resources Minister Scott Stewart, but with the Oakey Coal Action Alliance promising new challenges, there are calls for the project to be called in.

Federal Groom MP Garth Hamilton the Palaszczuk Government needed to approve it, and federal Opposition leader Anthony Albanese needed to vocally back it.

“If Mr Albanese doesn’t step in right now, I call bullshit on his support for the coal industry,” he said.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has yet to say what her government will do following the court decision. Picture: NCA NewsWire / John Gass

Federal Resources Minister Keith Pitt said it was a test for Mr Albanese, saying “this new found interest in coal can be proven or disproved”.

Federal opposition Queensland resources spokesman Murray Watt said he had confidence in the Palaszczuk Government to work through the next steps.

“I’ve always said the local community needs certainty about the mine, and the court decision helps provide that certainty,” he said.

OCAA secretary Paul King said the court’s decision also confirmed there had been issues with excessive noise and dust from the mine in the past, impacting locals lives for years.

“This should be enough for the Queensland Government to call it a day, and prevent this dangerous, unwanted project from reopening,” he said.

Mr Stewart said the state government would “thoroughly consider the recommendation” from the Land Court.

Asked ahead of the court’s recommendation what she would say to the workers who had lost their jobs, Ms Palaszczuk said, “there was always an appeal to the courts so we’re going to wait and see what the court decision is today.”