New Acland accuses Palaszczuk Government of arming mine activists

The State Government has given anti-coal activists a “blueprint” for delaying proposed projects, according to a frustrated miner.

THE Queensland Government’s refusal to approve a coalmine due to a court case has created a “blueprint” for green activists to follow in order to hold up state-significant projects, New Hope Coal says.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has promised to abide by an “imminent” Court of Appeal decision around the controversial New Acland Stage 3 mine, but the company says that’s a cop-out, and creates a bad precedent following its 12-year wait for state government approvals.

Waiting game: Who will go in the New Acland Mine job cuts?

Opinion: New Acland mine decision is critical

Queensland Parliament Question Time blog: Action taken over shocking run of mine deaths

New Hope Group chief development officer Ben Armitage said the Government was “in no way” legally constrained by the Court of Appeal.

New Acland coalmine

He said the Government had already granted its environmental approval while the Court of Appeal case was afoot, undermining Ms Palaszczuk’s argument now.

“The State Government’s decision to hide behind the Court of Appeals is weak and disrespectful to the judiciary,” he said.

“Queenslanders expect its leaders to make decisions, not excuses.”

The proposed $1 billion expansion won its latest legal battle in March and, as part of the final application, included measures to limit noise.

One hundred and fifty redundancies have been announced at New Acland.

But the 7.5 million tonne per annum mine, close to Oakey, has again been challenged by landowners called the Oakey Coal Action Alliance.

“Whenever we get these approvals … someone’s going to appeal those approvals,” Mr Armitage said.

“So it’s a blueprint for the activists.

“The point is the objectors and activists can keep you in court.

“When does the Government step in and say, this is ludicrous?”

The company plans to make half of its 300-strong workforce redundant before Christmas due to the hold ups.

But Ms Palaszczuk insisted she had to “abide by the law of the land” and said she looked forward to the court decision.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk at state parliament in Townsville. Picture: Alix Sweeney

“My Government is waiting on the finalisation of proceedings in the Court of Appeal … and all parties know that that decision is imminent,” she said.

Federal Resources Minister Matt Canavan said the tactics were straight out of activist playbooks that directed greenies to disrupt and delay projects to erode public and political support for the coal industry.

“By cowardly hiding behind the courts when they don’t have to, the Queensland Government is arming the activists,” he said.

“These foreign funded anti-coal groups have explicitly said that they will use our court systems to delay coal projects.

“Why is the Queensland Labor Party playing into their hands?”