Controversial New Acland mine decision ‘not my call’: Premier

Opposition leader David Crisafulli has called on the Queensland government to “put politics to one side” when it comes to making a decision on the New Acland mine expansion.

Opposition leader David Crisafulli says the Queensland government needs to “put politics to one side” after the Premier said she would have no part in the decision on whether the New Acland mine expansion can go forward, saying that’s up to bureaucrats.

The contentious New Acland mine expansion near Oakey on the Darling Downs has been signed off by the Co-ordinator-General, in what has been hailed as a landmark development by New Hope Group after 15 years of legal challenges and uncertainty, but still needs final approvals from the state government.

Ms Palaszczuk on Monday said the Co-ordinator-General was still “working through those issues”.

“And, of course, the government is working through those issues with different departments and of course normal processes will be followed, just as they are with any other application.”

Asked how soon a decision could be made, she said that was “up to the department”.

“I don’t get involved in those decisions, nor should I,” she said.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk will not have a say in the New Acland mine decision. Photo: Tara Croser.

Speaking in Rockhampton, the Premier was asked whether Labor would rethink its position on new mining projects given the fact Greens candidates had just won three Brisbane seats at the May 21 federal election and it was clear people wanted greater action on climate change.

Ms Palaszczuk said a progressive Labor government could balance action on climate change with the need to create regional jobs.

Mr Crisafulli, also speaking in Rockhampton, said Queenslanders wanted the government to “treat things fairly and put politics to one side” when asked about the New Acland project.

“By anyone’s barometer, the delays that this expansion has been through, one way or another governments can’t just prolong decisions for the better part of a decade,” he said.

A new stage of the New Acland Mine is waiting on approval. (Image/Josh Woning)

“Good governments make decisions and they do it based on facts but they don’t just keep kicking the can down the road.”

He said governments shouldn’t delay decisions for political reasons but make them in a timely way, whether they were an approval or rejection.

“You’ve got to make a decision and you’ve got to be prepared to have the ticker to stand up and make that decision and this has been unacceptably delayed for too long,” he said.

“One way or another, a decision has to be made.”

The mine has effectively been shuttered since November with hundreds of workers made redundant in recent years while the New Hope Group waited for certainty around its Stage 3 proposal.

The Co-ordinator-General handed down their Change Report last week, following December’s Land Court ruling that the mine be granted approval with conditions.