Premier stands by minister after ‘Adani tears’

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is backing her Environment Minister, who admits crying over the Adani approval.

Queensland Environment Minister Leeanne Enoch

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is backing her Environment Minister to stay in cabinet after Leeanne Enoch was caught on camera admitting she had shed tears over her own ­department’s Adani approval.

Ms Palaszczuk yesterday insisted her cabinet was not divided over the Indian company’s controversial central Queensland coalmine proposal.

“There is no split,” the Premier said in Townsville.

But Ms Enoch has twice been caught on camera conceding she had been devastated and shed tears over the decision. “Let me tell you, me personally, there have been some tears shed on this — very much,” she said in the latest video, filmed at an environmental awards night in Cairns at the weekend and shown by the ABC.

“But my role will always be to uphold the regulator (Department of Environment and Science) and I’ll fight every day to make sure the regulator is able to do what they must do in this state, and hold those companies to account.” The department approved Adani’s groundwater management plan last Thursday, allowing the company to start construction on the Galilee Basin project.

Ms Palaszczuk’s tour of ­regional Queensland to sell last week’s state budget has been dogged by questions about Adani and Ms Enoch’s comments. Yesterday, the Premier said Ms Enoch would “of course” stay in cabinet.

“I’ve looked at that video and gone through the transcript at length,” the Premier said. “She backs the decision of the regulator. Everyone backs the process and now we want to see the ­regional jobs.”

In a statement, Ms Enoch said she had shed tears over “offensive comments … directed at me and my family, and the division and heartache this one project has caused the community, particularly among traditional owners”.