Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has reacted to Queensland's rejection of federal Labor by ordering an urgent meeting with Indian mining giant Adani to resolve the drawn-out delays plaguing the project.
Days after regional voters vented against federal Labor at the ballot box, Ms Palaszczuk called on her state co-ordinator-general to meet with Adani and the independent regulator on Thursday to help fix a timeline and deadline by Friday.
The mine's two outstanding environmental management plans, involving the site's Black-Throated Finch habitat and complex groundwater sources, have contributed to delays.
Adani has repeatedly complained the approval process has dragged on because the government keeps moving the goal posts on the issues.
Adani Australia chief executive Lucas Dow wants the mine approved now but said he was looking forward to discussing the timeframe on Thursday.
However, he added that if the approvals were not complete within two weeks then calling the meeting would prove to be just another government "delaying tactic".
The Abbot Point coal export terminal, located in Queensland is Australia's most northerly port. The port is currently leased to Adani Enterprises of India. Source: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images
The state's drawn-out process of approving Adani's controversial plans for the massive mine in the Galilee Basin has been blamed for Labor's poor performance in Queensland in Saturday's federal election.
Ms Palaszczuk flew to Hay Point Coal Terminal with local state MP Julieanne Gilbert to make the announcement amid pressure to listen to regional voters if Labor is to stand a chance of re-election at next year's state poll.
If it goes ahead the Adani mine is expected to create jobs in a region that has high unemployment.
Ms Palaszczuk reassured voters she represented a working-class electorate and understood the needs and aspirations of families.
"At the end of the day, it's about putting food on the table, making sure that your children can aspire to be whatever they want to be," she said.
She told voters she was "really sorry that Labor let you down" and reaffirmed her commitment to jobs in the state.
Leaked video footage suggests Adani is planning a bigger mine in Queensland. Source: AAP Image/Supplied by the Australian Conservation Foundation, Gary Farr
Ms Palaszczuk said she understood there was frustration in the community about the lack of a decision on the mine.
"I think everyone's had a gutful of this, frankly," she said.
"We need some certainty and we need some time-frames."
Opposition leader Deb Frecklington said the planned meeting simply deflected responsibility away from the premier and on to the co-ordinator general who she said has been part of the approval process for close to a decade.
Ms Frecklington said the co-ordinator-general had been involved in the approval process for this project since 2010.
"Even now, Annastacia Palaszczuk still lacks the backbone to make a decision," Ms Frecklington said.
Earlier on Wednesday, Local Government Minister Stirling Hinchliffe poured money into region councils during a blitz announcing five separate "jobs-supporting infrastructure grants" worth millions of dollars.
