Nationals seek green light for Adani

The Queensland government is coming under pressure to approve the Carmichael coalmine following a final environmental permit.

Nationals seek green light for Adani

File image of anti-mining protesters pose for a photograph outside mining giant Adani's offices during a rally in Brisbane, Thursday, July 16, 2015. Source: AAP

Queensland coalition MPs have urged the state government to fast-track approval of a massive coalmine.

Indian mining giant Adani on Tuesday cleared a major hurdle for its controversial Carmichael coalmine, with the Queensland government issuing the project with a final environmental permit.

Liberal National Party senator Matt Canavan said it had been 1900 days since the company first asked for approval and it was now time the project received the green light.

"If they say `no' we will be sending a signal to the world that Australia is not open for business," Senator Canavan told reporters in Canberra on Wednesday.

He said Adani had been patient but "their patience will not be infinite".

Queensland MP Ewen Jones said the project now had greater urgency with the voluntary administration of Clive Palmer's Queensland Nickel threatening thousands of jobs in Townsville.

Greens senator Larissa Waters said the Queensland government should block the mine going ahead, to protect the Great Barrier Reef and act on climate change.

Senator Waters said the mine was a "climate pollution bomb" and a native title challenge was still afoot in the Federal Court.

Queensland Treasurer Curtis Pitt said it was unreasonable to ask the state government to fast-track approval, because it was out of its control.

"We know that there are court proceedings that must play themselves out," Mr Pitt said.

"We have been clear that people's objection rights need to be maintained and, certainly, people need to be heard."

However, Mr Pitt said he hoped the process ran as smoothly as possible and the state government would help where it could.

"This is something we see as a terrific jobs generator and of course there's going to be great benefits to the state for many decades to come," he said.

But Queensland Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg said the mine would have been approved on environmental grounds more than a year ago had Labor not pandered to the Greens for preferences.

"Labor's pandering to the Greens has held Queensland back for too long, stalling the resources industry and hindering projects that have the potential to pump billions of dollars into the state's economy and create thousands of jobs," he said.

Labor and the Greens were indulging in confected outraged over the Adani project while it was warm and cosy behind the scenes, he said.

"This is a manufactured fight to save face."

However, Queensland Mines Minister Anthony Lynham said a number of statutory obligations and legal issues had to be addressed before he could consider granting mining leases for the Carmichael coal project.

Adani had to finalise compensation agreements with remaining landholders, and with local government for affected road reserves under the footprint of the lease, he said.

Dr Lynham also said the company had to negotiate an Indigenous Land Use agreement with native title holders, although this didn't relate to any granting of a mining lease.

Other outstanding issues included approvals for power, water, roadworks and an airport, he said.


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Source: AAP



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