Coal Qld: Anthony Albanese won’t rule out future projects

In turning down Clive Palmer’s Queensland coalmine plans, Anthony Albanese says he is not ruling out other coal and gas projects.

Rejecting Clive Palmer’s Queensland coal mine proposal does not mean Labor has given in to the Greens’ demands for no new coal or gas projects, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has declared, leaving the door open for the resources industry.

The Greens backed the Federal Labor Government’s climate change legislation this week, despite failing to get a ban on new coal and gas projects included, vowing to pursue their demands in other ways.

Mr Albanese, who goes on holiday for a week starting today, said Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek denying approval to the mine did not indicate his government supported the Greens’ call for a ban.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

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.

Greens leader Adam Bandt said “one down, 113 to go” in reference to the number of other potential coal and gas projects in Australia.

Mr Albanese said each approval was based on merit, and the Palmer proposal had been declined due to its 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,” he said.

“The difference between us and the Greens party is we have a path to get there. You can’t just transition an economy through rhetoric.

“You need to do it with coherent plans that make sure that you transition and grow the economy while you’re doing it, because that is the way that you can bring the Australian people and communities with you as well.”

The decision is out for public comment for 10 days, before it can be finalised.

Clive Palmer

The Courier-Mail has sought comment from Mr Palmer.

Mr Bandt has said the Greens will continue to seek to have a moratorium on new coal and gas projects, including through seeking changes to Labor’s proposed emissions “safeguard mechanism”.

The mechanism is essentially a cap-and-trade scheme for Australia’s biggest emitters, but Energy and Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen has indicated Labor will implement the safeguard mechanism it took to the election “without alteration”.