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Adani issue hurt Labor in Qld: Canavan

Coalition figures say the anti-Adani convoy and Queensland government failure to hasten the proposed mine's approval process hurt Labor's election chances.

Bob Brown
Former Greens leader Bob Brown rejects claims his anti-Adani convoy helped the coalition's campaign. (AAP)

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Source: AAP


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A "hi-vis revolution" defeated Labor in parts of Queensland where Adani's proposed coal mine was the biggest issue, Nationals senator Matt Canavan says.

Labor was smashed in the state, where a slew of marginal seats swung the election in favour of the Morrison coalition government.

Senator Canavan - also the federal minister for resources and northern Australia - said Adani was "no doubt" the biggest issue in the state's cental and northern regions, blaming the state Labor government for failing to hasten approvals.

"They've been sitting on this for eight years," the Queensland senator, whose portfolio also includes responsibility for northern Australia, told AAP.

"It's a high-vis revolution.

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"For too long, despite the fact miners wear the brightest shirts of anyone, they've been invisible to the Australian Labor Party."

The LNP is set to gain Townsville seat Herbert - won by Labor's Cathy O'Toole in 2016 by just 37 votes - as well as retaining Dawson, Flynn, Capricornia and Leichhardt on the state's north and central coasts.

Coalition figures including Senator Canavan believe the anti-Adani convoy led by former Greens leader Bob Brown galvanised voters for the LNP as it wound through central Queensland during the federal election campaign.

Liberal senator Arthur Sinodinos said the convoy annoyed Queenslanders, while Capricornia Liberal MP Michelle Landry thanked Mr Brown.

"Bob's going to get a Christmas card from me this year," Senator Canavan said.

"It didn't just galvanise the people of central and north Queensland, it galvanised the people of Queensland.

"They don't take kindly to a blow-in trying to lecture people, rather than listen to them."

Mr Brown rejected claims his convoy through central Queensland backfired, noting the swing to the LNP was national, not just across central Queensland.

"It's an easy comment afterwards," he told AAP.

"You can see where the independents and Greens have done very well. That's because climate change has been very important.

"The convoy was a great success and it's part of awakening people to climate change."

Mr Brown said that "greed won" over climate action in the federal election.

"People went for the money," Mr Brown said. "It just shows that dollars will defeat morality at the ballot box."


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