Liberal defector’s Adani stance is hypocrisy, former colleagues say

Julia Banks has been accused of hypocrisy over her new-found opposition to the Adani coal mine.

Liberal defector Julia Banks poses in her #Stop Adani earrings.

Liberal defector Julia Banks has been accused of hypocrisy by former colleagues over her new-found opposition to the Adani coalmine as she takes on Health Minister Greg Hunt in his Victorian seat of Flinders.

Ms Banks, who had not expressed opposition to the Adani mine until last week, yesterday tweeted a photo of herself in “Stop Adani” earrings.

“My team know I love earrings and that I want to #StopAdani — so they bought me these!” the outgoing member for Chisholm told followers. “Just like the Flinders community, we are all committed to #StopAdani and move Australia towards a renewable future.”

My team know I love earrings and that I want to #StopAdani - so they bought me these!

Just like the Flinders community, we are all committed to #StopAdani and move Australia towards a renewable future. #ClimateElection #FlindersVotes #AusVotes2019 pic.twitter.com/ll3n6QNejL

— Julia Banks MP (@juliabanksmp) April 7, 2019

The tweet followed a statement to parliament last week spruiking her Flinders candidacy, declaring a strong independent was needed in the seat to fight climate change “lies” and “stop Adani”.

Liberal senator for Victoria Jane Hume was outraged at her former colleague’s conversion to the anti-Adani cause. “Julia’s highly selective principles are beyond opportunistic — they are downright hypocritical,” Senator Hume said. “In the two years I sat next to her in the partyroom there was not one mention of climate change or the Adani coalmine — or medical treatment of refugees.

“The people of Chisholm and Flinders are rightly angry and cynical that she’s shopping seats, but to shop your opinions as well? It’s beyond hypocrisy.”

@juliabanksmp you giggled and cheered when ScoMo reminded Labor that coal is Australia’s second biggest export. You never once spoke out against Adani in the Party Room. Your principles are breathtakingly selective. I’ve let you off the hook for your hypocrisy long enough. pic.twitter.com/1Ipa5R9K3j

— Jane Hume (@SenatorHume) April 7, 2019

The spat comes amid anger in the Coalition over Environment Minister Melissa Price’s refusal to sign off on a groundwater approval for the Adani project before the election in a move that could leave the future of the mine in Labor’s hands.

The Courier-Mail reports today LNP senator James McGrath has warned Ms Price he will publicly call for her resignation if she fails to treat the Adani project fairly.

Ms Price has refused to issue the approval in the face of intense lobbying by federal Liberal MPs in Victoria. But Queensland MPs have warned that a go-slow on the federal approvals would play badly in the state for the government.

Josh Frydenberg said Ms Price was following the normal statutory approval process.