Hill says she has urged State MPs to declare support for Galilee

Mayor Jenny Hill has defended her stance of supporting Adani’s Carmichael mine project but not publicly calling out her colleagues in the Labor Party who do not do the same.

MAYOR Jenny Hill has defended her stance of supporting Adani’s Carmichael mine project but not publicly calling out her colleagues in the Labor Party who do not do the same.

Yesterday, Townsville’s Mayor maintained she had always supported the jobs the Carmichael mine and other mines in the Galilee Basin would bring.

She said she had also urged local State Labor MPs to do the same.

But prominent Townsville businessman Peter Tapiolas has accused Cr Hill and other councillors of failing to stand up for Townsville over delays to the Carmichael project.

With the State Government yet to decide on management plan approvals for the mine, the issue continues to dominate the federal election campaign.

Cr Hill said she wanted everyone to stop mucking around.

Mayor Jenny Hill said she had always supported the jobs the Galilee Basin mines would bring to Townsville.

“I’ve always supported the jobs the Carmichael mine — and other mines in the Galilee Basin — will bring to Townsville and I want the project to start as soon as possible,” Cr Hill said.

“This is a project that will bring hundreds of well-paid and secure jobs to Townsville.

“I want everyone to stop mucking around and work together to ensure this project starts now.”

Cr Hill said every opportunity she got to meet with State and federal MPs she raised the importance of opening up the Galilee Basin to the region’s economic potential.

“I’ve urged the local State MPs to sign the pledge in support of opening up the Galilee Basin,” Cr Hill said.

“I’ve been advocating for this project for years and my position hasn’t changed.

“The Queensland Government needs to ensure the rules for any new mine project are the same to ensure companies have certainty to invest and create jobs.

“After the recent federal approvals for the project, the responsibility for the next approval rests with the Queensland Government.”

Mr Tapiolas, a director of Parkside Development, one of the city’s largest developers, has urged the Mayor and elected representatives to “stand tall and publicly call for the immediate approval of the mine”.

But last month he said the Mayor’s silence had been deafening.

“City leaders are hiding behind the delay tactics orchestrated by their masters in the south,” Mr Tapiolas said.

“It’s simply astounding that this council will not stand up for Townsville’s unemployed, not stand up for Townsville’s struggling residents.

Mr Tapiolas said all the Mayor wanted to talk about was “fluffy white elephant” projects and not address the issues facing our community.

Cr Hill rejected that position, suggesting it was Mr Tapiolas who had only just sided with the development.

Originally published as Hill says she has urged State MPs to declare support for Galilee