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Resources expert’s contract not renewed after criticism of Adani approval process

State Development Minister Cameron Dick has taken an indirect swipe at Adani while spruiking the $1 billion Olive Downs coal mine in the Bowen Basin. 

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STATE Development Minister Cameron Dick has taken an indirect swipe at Adani while spruiking the $1 billion Olive Downs coal mine in the Bowen Basin. 

 

"Not a single negative submission was made about the mine (Olive Downs)," he said.

"Good projects that stack up will be approved in our state."

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It comes after the Government yesterday announced it had approved the mine's environmental impact statement .

This is despite only requiring minor adjustments to its assessment of the area’s black-throated finch population, which is now plaguing the Adani Carmichael coal mine.

EARLIER A Palaszczuk Government resources expert who described the Adani mine approval process as a “mess” has not had her contract renewed.

Queensland Resources Investment Commissioner Caoilin Chestnutt. Picture: Supplied
Queensland Resources Investment Commissioner Caoilin Chestnutt. Picture: Supplied

Queensland’s Resources Investment Commissioner Caoilin Chestnutt made the sensational claims while in India in February, warning that the Government’s controversial review of the mine’s black-throated finch management plan could force the Indian miner “back to the drawing board”. A Natural Resources, Mines and Energy Department spokesman last night confirmed Ms Chestnutt’s “short term contract”, which wraps up next week, had not been renewed.

The Commissioner, who’d worked for Arrow Energy, JB Mining Services and Anglo America, was appointed to the international role late last year.

Her comments made international headlines, forcing the Palaszczuk Government to defend its handling of the project.

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It comes as the Government faces further pressure to rule out a hike in royalties when Treasurer Jackie Trad hands down her Budget next month with powerful union the CFMMEU weighing in.

CFMMEU Mining and Energy Division Queensland District president Stephen Smyth issued a joint statement with Queensland Resources Council chief executive Ian Macfarlane warning the Government any such move would threaten job security in the state’s mining communities.

“Unemployment in Queensland is rising. The resources industry , particularly coal, has been creating jobs and paying record royalties to the Government ,” Mr Macfarlane and Mr Smyth wrote.

“The Palaszczuk Government will receive more than $5 billion in resource royalties this financial year. That’s a record Budget contribution from our industry.

“The Queensland Government should give those mine workers, their families and their communities a commitment that it supports the industry and that it rules out increasing taxes and royalties that hurt the industry and force it to review planned investments and employment.”

Updates

Treasury will review a decision to suspend a worker from the Gladstone Port.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk also said discussions were being held around moving the role of the Queensland Resources Investment Commissioner to sit under the Trades and Investment Queensland umbrella.

It comes after The Courier-Mail today revealed Commissioner Caoilin Chestnutt's short term contract had not been renewed and would end next week.

Ms Chestnutt called the Adani approval process a "mess" while in India in February.

– Domanii Cameron

No railway to the Galilee Basin - can't talk about compensation

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One Nation's Stephen Andrew has asked if there were any financial provisions in place to cover possible compensation claims if the Adani Carmichael mine did not go ahead.

Mr Andrew pointed to international trade treaties with India and China as possible avenues for affected parties to lodge the claims.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said, "As we know there is no railway to the Galilee basin so we can't talk about any compensation when nothing has been built," she said.

– Michael Wray

Talks to move coveted job under new umbrella

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Treasury will review a decision to suspend a worker from the Gladstone Port.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk also said discussions were being held around moving the role of the Queensland Resources Investment Commissioner to sit under the Trades and Investment Queensland umbrella.

It comes after The Courier-Mail today revealed Commissioner Caoilin Chestnutt's short term contract had not been renewed and would end next week.

Ms Chestnutt called the Adani approval process a "mess" while in India in February.

– Domanii Cameron

Watch house debacle continues

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Another Opposition question has probed for more details on the juvenile detention crisis with health spokeswoman Ros Bates asking how many children including 10 year olds were currently detained in watch houses.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said she regularly received updates on the situation and there were currently 75 children and no 10 year olds detained in watch houses.

– Michael Wray

Minister kicked out

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Tourism Minister Kate Jones has been booted from Parliament for 10 minutes for interjecting.

Ms Jones questioned why she was being kicked out before leaving.

Where should youth offenders submit their resume?

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After stating twice this week that youth offenders – including those aged just 10 – should be employed, the Premier has been asked where they can submit their resumes.

"For young people, they need to be in safe homes and in school getting an education," the Premier said, in response to the Opposition question.

"As I said in this House … young people coming into watch houses and youth detention come from a … whole range of backgrounds."

– Domanii Cameron

Child Safety Minister would need to check notes

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The questioning has continued to focus on juveniles detained in watch houses with the Opposition trying to find out exactly when the Government knew of horrific conditions exposed on Four Corners this week.

Opposition child safety spokesman Stephen Bennett asked if the alarm was raised at a meeting between Child Safety Minister Di Farmer and Public Guardian Natalie Siegel-Brown on October 11 last year.

Ms Farmer said "hand on heart" she could not remember what was discussed in the meeting.

"I would have to refer to meeting notes," she said.

She said the claims had been raised over a "period of time".

– Michael Wray

Opposition cheers on Deputy Premier's comments

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The Opposition has erupted into laughter after Deputy Premier Jackie Trad said the state needed a Morrison-Labor Government while speaking about the taxi subsidy scheme for people with disabilities. 

Burleigh MP Michael Hart raised both his hands and laughed.

Children held like "caged animals"

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Deputy Premier Jackie Trad said it wasn't her responsibility to look after "every single policy area" when it came to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander partnerships.

It follows a question by Opposition Leader Tim Mander who asked what action Ms Trad had taken to stop indigenous children being held like "caged animals" following news a six-year-old boy was held in a maximum security adult cell for 34 days.

"I will in fact ensure that those opposite understand that my role as Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander partnerships is not to take responsibility for every single policy area," she said. 

"My agency provides specialist advice and policy support in the areas particularly of social policy that impact so significantly on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people."
Ms Trad said the Government would investigate the issue regarding the young boy.

– Domanii Cameron

State Government considered "every possible option"

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The Opposition has seized on comments from a leading child advocate that the juvenile detention crisis could be fixed by increasing staff ratios and building temporary accommodation.

Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington asked if the Government would take the advice of Damien Tomlinson QC, chairman of Brisbane's Youth Advocacy Centre.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the government had considered "every possible option" including temporary accommodation.

But she said widely endorsed guidelines for juvenile detention had found temporary accommodation was inappropriate.

Previous attempts to house juveniles at the John Oxley Youth Detention Centre in temporary accommodation had led to problems with break outs and damage to  property, she said.

– Michael Wray

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Original URL: https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/queensland-government/resources-experts-contract-not-renewed-after-criticism-of-adani-approval-process/live-coverage/63ac9004422822f9a1fddfc93ebe2238