Queensland election results 2017: Adani mine will proceed ’on own merits’ says Premier

ADANI’S Carmichael coal mine will need to go ahead on its own merits, with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk sticking by her promised Commonwealth loan veto if she retains power.

Adani's Carmichael Coal mine project.

ADANI’S Carmichael coal mine will need to go ahead on its own merits, with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk sticking by her promised Commonwealth loan veto if she retains power.

Her vow came as federal Resources Minister Matt Canavan rejected the notion that the election result proved there was a lack of support for the mine.

“The reality is, in regional Queensland this mine is greatly supported,” Senator Canavan told the ABC.

“Any Labor Queensland Government that seeks to try and stop this project will have that hung around their heads in regional Queensland.”

And he said most southeast Queenslanders didn’t think too much about a mine 1500 kilometres away.

Adani's Carmichael Coal mine project.

Protesters are planning ‘‘Stop Adani’’ rallies today, in front of the Queensland Parliament in Brisbane, and also in Cairns and Mackay, which will call on major parties to veto the NAIF loan and oppose the mine.

Ms Palaszczuk said she would go ahead with her promised Adani Northern Australian Infrastructure Facility (NAIF) loan veto should predictions of a majority government come to fruition.

A spokesman for the Premier said it was now up to Adani to ensure the project was financed.

“We expect them to get on with it,” he said.

Senator Canavan said Labor maintained they were ‘‘behind the mine’’, but that remained to be seen.

“Look, it will be interesting to see where the Queensland Labor Party goes now on that issue,” he said.

“But as I say, if they seek to destroy the thousands of jobs that would be created ... that will be a great millstone for the Labor Party going into any future elections in regional Queensland.”

The project dominated much of the 28-day campaign, with Ms Palaszczuk making a surprise vow at the end of the first week of the campaign to veto the NAIF loan that the miner had applied for.

She first said that was because her partner Shaun Drabsch had worked on the application at PwC and that the federal Coalition was planning a smear campaign against her.

Originally published as Queensland election results 2017: Adani mine will proceed ’on own merits’ says Premier