The Courier-Mail can reveal that official reports found the endangered black-throated finch likely lived on land within the footprint of the $1.7 billion Byerwen open-cut coalmine in the Bowen Basin.
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The presence of the bird was detailed in proponent QCoal’s environmental impact statement that was approved by the Queensland’s co-ordinator-general in 2014.
QCoal was allowed to proceed with the 10 million tonne-a-year mine in exchange for preserving thousands of hectares of land to benefit several at-risk species.
These included the endangered black-throated finch which was deemed to “likely occur” within the mine area after sightings during the EIS process.
“Impacts on the black-throated finch will be mitigated by conducting detailed searches of nesting habitat within proximity to important water sources and replicating suitable habitats where possible,” the co-ordinator general’s approval stated.
The company’s offset management plan mirrors what Adani has proposed for the Carmichael coalmine, which will also produce 10 million tonne a year during its first phase.
However, the State Government’s decision not to intervene with QCoal’s plans when it ticked off the mine’s environmental approvals are in stark contrast to its controversial move to appoint a panel of experts to conduct a review of the Carmichael mine’s management plans.
The revelation came as Government ministers yesterday lauded their efforts approving resources projects, including Byerwen, ahead of a taxpayer-funded advertising blitz in regional Queensland where Federal Labor is facing criticism over Adani.
Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington said the approval of Byerwen exposed Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s prejudice against Adani.
“Labor has allowed ideology to corrupt the approval process of a major Queensland resources project that would generate thousands of jobs,” she said.
A spokesman for Ms Palaszczuk insisted the different approaches were because the Byerwen site was thought to contain fewer finches.
“By contrast, the site of the proposed Carmichael mine is known to be home to the most significant population of the black-throated finch,” he said.
Queensland Resources Council chief executive Ian Macfarlane urged the Government to get on with approving the $60 billion in resources projects in the approvals pipeline.
“It’s great to celebrate the investment secured over the last four years, but no one won a race running backwards,” he said.
Live Updates
Treasurer Jackie Trad has refused to be drawn on the likelihood mining royalties will be hiked in her looming State Budget amid speculation from the resources industry that the moves could be afoot.
Ms Trad was questioned on any potential moves in Question Time this morning.
She told the House the only party to have raised royalties “of late” in Queensland was the LNP.
But she would not be drawn further, insisting she would not be outlining any Budget deliberations in the House until the Budget is handed down in June.
It comes after Ms Palaszczuk also refused to rule out any increase in taxes and charged when asked by the LNP last month.
– Sarah Vogler
Broadwater MP David Crisafulli has now been booted for one hour.
Gympie MP Tony Perrett has also been warned.
LNP Member for Pumicestone Simone Wilson asked the Premier if she would intervene to stop the Australian Education Union running political campaigns in schools.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said: “If teachers want to talk about fair funding, I don’t have a problem with that.”
– Michael Wray
Tourism Minister Kate Jones has been kicked out of Parliament for heckling.
Speaker Curtis Pitt has warned the House that interjecting will not be tolerated.
The Premier has defended Queensland's jobs growth, after the LNP said the state was "haemorrhaging" manufacturing jobs.
"192,000 jobs (created in Queensland) Mr Speaker," she said.
"We helped secure the Rheinmetall contract here."
– Domanii Cameron
Shadow natural resources spokesman Dale Last has asked Environment Minister Leeanne Enoch when the black-throated finch management plan for Adani’s Carmichael coal will be approved.
Mr Last said it had been 72 days since the review of the plan had been finalised.
Ms Enoch said the responsibility of approval rested solely with the regulator – the Environment and Science Department.
“That is in place so that there is not political interference and there is science and expertise in making the decision,” she said.
– Michael Wray
The Opposition has continued to focus on coal mining by challenging Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to sign a Townsville Enterprise pledge of support for opening the Galilee Basin.
Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington tried to table the Townsville Bulletin’s most recent Saturday front page in which three local Labor MPs were pictured alongside the world “gutless” for not signing the pledge.
The word “gutless” was ruled unparliamentary and Ms Frecklington was unable to table the document but she was allowed to ask Ms Palaszczuk if she would “stand up for Queensland jobs and sign the pledge” along with the three Townsville MPs, Aaron Harper, Scott Stewart and Coralee O’Rourke.
Ms Palaszczuk said: “I don’t expect that any of my members have to sign anything by Townsville Enterprise.”
– Michael Wray
Deputy Premier Jackie Trad says Queensland has a proud and successful exporting industry.
It comes after Deputy Opposition Leader Tim Mander asked whether Ms Trad would back Indian companies – like Adani.
"From the Japanese to the Chinese to Indians to English … we are a proud state that seeks to do business with so many economies right throughout the world," she said.
– Domanii Cameron
Question time has kicked off, with Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington
asking how many black-throated finches there needed to be before an independent review was called.
It comes after The Courier-Mail revealed a major new coalmine was waved through environmental approvals despite the same bird that's plagued the Adani mine found to have "likely" lived on the land.
"All of our resource projects go through rigorous environmental assessment," the Premier said.
"It's up to the miner to go through and get those processes."
– Domanii Cameron
Question time has kicked off, with Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington
asking how many black-throated finches there needed to be before an independent review was called.
It comes after The Courier-Mail revealed a major new coalmine was waved through environmental approvals despite the same bird that's plagued the Adani mine found to have "likely" lived on the land.
"All of our resource projects go through rigorous environmental assessment," the Premier said.
"It's up to the miner to go through and get those processes."
– Domanii Cameron
