Parliamentary review handed down on anti-coal mining laws

A Parliamentary committee charged with reviewing the Greens’ proposed laws to scupper coal mining in the Galilee Basin – including Adani’s controversial project – has handed down its report.

THE Greens’ bid to scupper the controversial Carmichael coal mine in the Galilee Basin has all but failed.

Maiwar MP Michael Berkman introduced a Bill to end all coal mining in the controversial Galilee Basin last year.

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However the Parliamentary committee charged with reviewing the laws – the State Development, Natural Resources and Agricultural Industry Development Committee – has recommended they not be passed.

In its report released this afternoon, the committee raised numerous issues including lack of meaningful consultation.

“ … as no economic, environmental or social modelling on this Bill has been undertaken and no wider stakeholder engagement, the impacts are unknown,” the report said.

“These include; the impacts on regional Queensland, the impact of lost mining royalties for Queensland, the broader economic and social impacts to Queensland and Australia, the potential liabilities to mining lease holders, the impact of the lack of a clear national policy on emissions and climate change.”

During the Bill’s public hearings last month, concerns were raised around whether compensation would need to be paid to companies already granted exploratory mining leases.

It was revealed that some companies had committed billions of dollars to thermal coal assets, including Adani which has invested more than $1.4 billion to date.

Greens MP Michael Berkman. Picture: Liam Kidston

The committee believed that to remove a mining lease without compensation was “an interference with the rights of a lease holder.”

“The position outlined in the explanatory notes that compensation is not required is questionable and precarious,” the report said.

Mr Berkman said the Labor-dominated Parliamentary committee had the chance to stop Adani today, but so far they’d failed.

“Labor and LNP members were on a unity ticket: both recommended that my bill not be passed,” he said.

“Coal workers and coal towns have worked and sacrificed to keep the lights on and build our common prosperity, so we can’t leave them to the chaos of the market as coal declines.

“Any politician without a plan to phase out thermal coal with good jobs, housing and security for workers is not serious about climate change or Queensland’s future.”