'Everyone's had a gutful': Labor MPs, union factions row over Adani

The Labor Party and a peak union have descended into a damaging row in the wake of the federal election over the lingering flash-point issue of the Adani coal mine in Queensland.

Two factions of the powerful Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union are at odds over the approval of the proposed mine in the Galilee Basin, while Labor MPs are furious the issue was allowed to derail their campaign in Queensland.

Annastacia Palaszczuk says her government has moved quickly in response to community frustration with the Adani approval process.Credit: AAP

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced on Thursday that she would fast-track Adani's planned Carmichael mine, just days after federal Labor's stunning election defeat.

"I think everyone's had a gutful so that's why we have moved quickly to resolve this," Ms Palaszczuk told reporters in Townsville.

Labor MPs, furious at the party's mixed messages on the mine, believe the issue cost them vital seats in Queensland, where it lost Herbert and Longman and suffered swings towards incumbent Liberal National MPs George Christensen in Dawson and Michelle Landry in Capricornia.

"We equivocated and sent all the wrong messages," federal Labor's agriculture spokesman, Joel Fitzgibbon, said. "Not only to coal miners but working class people right across the country."

Adding to the divisions, a split has emerged in the Queensland branch of the CFMMEU over the state government's support for the controversial mine.

While the mining division of the Queensland CFMMEU has pushed for coal mining jobs - demanding all federal election candidates sign a pledge in support - the construction division came out swinging against the Indian conglomerate on Thursday.

CFMMEU Queensland construction secretary Michael Ravbar said the state government "risked being taken for a ride by a shonky multinational with a chequered corporate history", demanding "enforceable guarantees" to ensure that Adani did not import cheap labour.

Queensland Mining division secretary Stephen Smyth, who drafted the candidate pledge and warned of the sensitivity of the Adani issue among voters in the region, went to ground on Thursday.

LNP MP for Capricornia Michelle Landry says coal miners approached her to say that she had their vote.Credit: Stephen Vit

Ms Landry, who defended a challenge from Labor candidate and third-generation coal miner Russell Robertson, said the Premier's action was "too little, too late" for the voters of North Queensland.

She said Queensland voters were fed up with Labor, and the Coalition could thank Ms Palaszczuk and the Stop Adani convoy for delivering Saturday's electoral victory.

"I had CFMEU blokes coming up to me saying Labor's lost touch with the coal sector and we're voting for you," she said.

Ms Landry will join a group of frustrated mayors, led by Rockhampton's Margaret Strelow, for a "day of action" in support of regional Queensland jobs in the city on Friday.

Mr Robertson said in hindsight, Labor's campaign led by Bill Shorten did not adequately address concerns about where Labor stood on the Adani coal mine, and the party had failed to reassure voters that it supported mining jobs.

He said it became clear to him while doorknocking the electorate that a social media "scare campaign" had taken hold, with voters convinced that Labor was going to close existing coal mines - even though it had no plans to do so, and two new mines had opened during the campaign.

Anthony Albanese, who is expected to be elected unopposed as ALP leader within days after Queensland MP Jim Chalmers withdrew from the contest, has refused to take a position on Adani since announcing his candidacy, although he has promised a "clean slate".

The issue remains sensitive for Labor, as the Greens threaten a "brutal" campaign in key inner-city seats if the ALP's new leadership shifts to the right on climate change and coal mining.

Labor's candidate in Capricornia, Russell Robertson, says voter fears about Adani lost him the seat.Credit: Dominc Lorrimer

The plans for the thermal coal mine, which is expected to create thousands of jobs in the region, are being escalated at the same time as mining giant BHP declares it will phase out the resource "potentially sooner than expected".

Coal Council of Australia chief executive Greg Evans said there was "no more time to waste" in approving the Adani plans.