ALP candidate caught in a tight spot on New Acland

WHEN asked about her stance on New Acland’s Stage 3 expansion, Megan O’Hara Sullivan played it straight. But she's previously spoken in support of the mine.

Megan O'Hara Sullivan, TRC councillor announces her nomination for Toowoomba North in upcoming state election.

WHEN asked about her stance on New Acland Coal Mine's Stage 3 expansion, the new Labor candidate for Toowoomba North and current councillor Megan O'Hara Sullivan played it straight.

Speaking to reporters at the announcement of her candidacy on Friday, she said she'd "leave any comment on (the expansion) as it's part of a judicial process at the moment".

"So until that process is finished I think there's probably not very much that can be said that'll add any value to that."

But Cr O'Hara Sullivan has previously spoken out in support of the mine.

At the Queensland ALP conference in Townsville in 2017, she moved a motion supporting the State Government's commitment to allow legal proceedings to run their course, "but urges the government to fully explore mechanisms that would allow this project to proceed".

Speaking after the conference to The Chronicle, she said the people of Oakey were at the front of her mind when she proposed the motion.

"It's the people of Oakey who matter to me, because they have been through so much.

"This is something that does need to happen, (because) people need work.

"Others are entitled to their views. There would be some opposition (with the party), but broadly that is what the Labor Party stands for."

Earlier, in 2016, Cr O'Hara Sullivan accepted a gift of two LifeFlight Ball tickets, totalling $398, from New Acland Coal owner New Hope Group.

The Oakey Coal Action Alliance last month successfully applied for special leave to appeal to the High Court, a move that stemmed from a series of legal battles between the group and New Acland Coal over the expansion.

When The Chronicle contacted all State Labor MPs earlier this month to ask whether they supported the expansion, only two responded by saying they were broadly supportive of the resources industry, without mentioning New Acland.

The State Government has long-held the position it is waiting for court processes to be finalised before making a decision on the mine.

Cr O'Hara Sullivan said she didn't have anything to add when contacted.

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