Qld premier Annastacia Palaszczuk gives green light to $1 billion coal mine ahead of state election

The Queensland Government has approved a new $1 billion coal mine that will generate 1000 regional jobs.

Annastacia Palaszczuk has thrown her support behind Queensland’s resources sector one month out from the state election, green-lighting a new $1 billion coal mine.

Penbroke’s Olive Downs project, located southwest of Mackay, will generate 1000 regional jobs.

Speaking from central Queensland on Tuesday, Ms Palaszczuk dismissed calls her government hadn’t previously supported mining projects, particularly coal.

“We support all the resource industries in this state,” she said, adding coal was an essential part of the steel-making process.

“Steel is going to be part of our lives for many years to come, we need steel.”

The Olive Downs coal mine has a 79-year life. Picture: Supplied

Ms Palaszczuk said the government had now approved $21 billion in private resource sector projects since being elected, creating more than 80,000 jobs.

“People are not able to work overseas in mines at the moment,” she said.

“Our economy is able to function in Queensland because of our strong health response.”

There were no new COVID-19 cases recorded in the sunshine state on Tuesday, as it prepares to reopen to parts of NSW that were recently the scene for illegal beach parties.

There are just eight active cases in Queensland.

Tuesday, 29 September – coronavirus cases in Queensland:

• 0 new confirmed cases
• 8 active cases
• 1,157 total confirmed cases
• 1,104,203 tests conducted

Sadly, six Queenslanders with COVID-19 have died. 1,141 patients have recovered.#covid19 pic.twitter.com/b2YuRyvv26

— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) September 29, 2020

Ms Palaszczuk took to social media earlier in the day to thank Queenslanders for their work in stopping the spread of the virus, as the global death toll reached one million.

“Of those more than 1 million deaths, six were Queenslanders,” she tweeted.

“This pandemic isn’t over, and we don’t want to see any more Queenslanders dying from this disease. Keep following the health advice.”

From Wednesday, there will be no ADF personnel manning the Queensland border, a day before an easing of travel between the state and parts of northern NSW, including Byron, Ballina and Lismore.

ADF personnel will be pulled from the Queensland border one day before the state reopens to parts of NSW. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Steve Holland

It comes as Tweed Byron police have been forced to break up a massive party on a nudist beach near the tourist mecca, just days before the region opens to Queensland.

Police were called to Tyagarah Beach, north of Byron Bay, on Sunday morning, finding more than 20 people left from the 500+ gathering. Three people were slapped with $1000 public infringement notices for breaching NSW coronavirus restrictions.

Currently outdoor gatherings are restricted to just 20 people.

Ahead of the border softening from 1am on Thursday, Gold Coast police chief superintendent Mark Wheeler urged motorists to be patient, with delays expected for the long weekend.

He said 15 extra police would replace the 60 defence force members withdrawing from the border.

From Thursday, Queenslanders will be able to travel to Byron Bay and vice versa without needing to quarantine, but they must have valid border declaration passes.