Queensland election 2017: Annastacia Palaszczuk yet to call Adani
PREMIER Annastacia Palaszczuk is yet to pick up the phone and speak to Adani bosses, nine days after her bombshell decision to veto a $1 billion loan.
QLD Election
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PREMIER Annastacia Palaszczuk is yet to pick up the phone and speak to Adani bosses, nine days after her bombshell decision to veto a $1 billion loan.
The Indian mining conglomerate has gone silent on whether their Carmichael coal mine project will continue regardless of State Government support.
The Premier told The Sunday Mail she still supported the mine itself despite announcing on November 3 she would veto the $1 billion Northern Australia Infrastructure Fund loan for the construction of a rail line crucial to the project.
“The Palaszczuk Government has worked with the proponent to provide all the approvals it needs, with stringent conditions, for the project to progress,” she said.
“Adani acknowledged this when they announced it had the ‘green light’ on June 6.”
Ms Palaszczuk cited a conflict of interest created by her partner Shaun Drabsch working on Adani’s loan application.
She later said it had been Labor’s policy since 2015 not to fund the mine with taxpayer money.
The Premier said she had not spoken to Adani officials since making the bombshell announcement.
Senator Matt Canavan said he had spoken to Adani representatives but would not reveal what was said about the future of the rail line and mine.
“They are shocked as you can expect … but I’m not going to go into what was said in a private conversation with a private party,” Mr Canavan said.
“Until last week the Queensland Government had consistently told them (Adani) they supported the NAIF process – indeed they actively encouraged them to apply.
“In general terms governments chopping and changing positions like this is not the way to create jobs and opportunity in this state.”
Mr Canavan said his government was in support of the project which will open up further investment opportunities.
“We massively support opening up the Galilee Basin and it’s not about Adani – it’s a tool through which we can open up a new coal basin.
“This would be the first major coal basin opened up in Australia in nearly 50 years, and there are six proposed mines in the basin including Adani’s, and all up according to the Queensland Government Co-ordinator-General, they’ll produce over 15,000 direct jobs.”
State Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls said if elected, his government “will not block any loan from the Commonwealth Government that supports job-creating projects in Queensland”.
“Queenslanders, especially young Queenslanders, in regional areas are in desperate need of secure, long-term jobs – the Carmichael mine will provide those jobs,” he said.
“The LNP supports the Carmichael mine, as it will create thousands of jobs for Queenslanders.
“The Carmichael mine has been through a rigorous approvals process over six years.”
Originally published as Queensland election 2017: Annastacia Palaszczuk yet to call Adani
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