Bill Shorten steers clear of Qld thermal coal mine commitment

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has avoided committing Labor to supporting new thermal coal mines in Queensland.

OPPOSITION Leader Bill Shorten has avoided committing Labor to supporting new thermal coal mines in Queensland.

Touring a train manufacturer in Maryborough on Monday during his pre-election blitz of Queensland, Mr Shorten said he expected coal to play a role in the country’s exports and energy grid for the “foreseeable future”.

But he would not say if he would support new thermal coal mines in Queensland, pointing out instead that many Australians were keen to get into renewable energy.

“What I’m not going to do is say to Australians that we can turn our backs on the future and pretend that business as usual is a strategy for energy or the environment,” he said.

“Renewable energy is getting cheaper all the time – just ask anyone who has put a solar panel on their roof.”

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten meets new mother, Fatima, and her yet to be named daughter born yesterday at Bundaberg hospital. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

His comments come as a federal parliamentary inquiry prepares to evaluate a Bill introduced by the Greens that would make it illegal to dig up thermal coal in the Galilee Basin.

Mr Shorten also reaffirmed his position on the Adani Carmichael mine, saying it had to stack up under “scientific, environmental and commercial weight”.

“If it stacks up, it will happen,” he said.

“What I won’t do is be irresponsible and place all of the jobs eggs in the Adani basket.

“They’ve missed lots of deadlines.”

The Opposition Leader also visited Bundaberg yesterday, where he held a town-hall meeting with locals.

Originally published as Bill Shorten steers clear of Qld thermal coal mine commitment