Anti-Adani voters nip at Turnbull
THE “Adani curse” has hit Malcolm Turnbull with a poll finding most of his constituents want a review of the Queensland coal mine.
It has been a huge political problem for Opposition Leader Bill Shorten and now the Prime Minister could be asked to explain himself.
The PM has consistently attacked Mr Shorten with the claim he is supporting the mine when in Queensland but opposing it when in the Melbourne seat of Batman, which goes to a by-election on Saturday.
According to a survey released yesterday by the Australia Institute, two thirds of voters in Mr Turnbull’s seat of Wentworth and 60 per cent in Brisbane want a review of the environmental approval given to the project.
“Adani isn’t just a potent issue in Batman. It’s an issue on the government and the Prime Minister’s plate, right now,” said Australia Institute deputy director Ebony Bennett.
Ms Bennett said a majority of voters in the Liberal-held seats of Wentworth and Brisbane Aldo opposed using taxpayer money to subsidise coal projects such as Adani.
“Most agree that Australia must halt the expansion of coal mining and fast-track building renewables and storage to reduce the worsening impacts of climate change,” she said.
Last week Mr Turnbull gave the project by the Indian company his personal backing.
“All of that (environmental) permitting has been done. They are entitled to develop it in accordance with those permits,’’ he said.
“As to whether it is commercially or financially viable, that is a matter for the company. They have got to decide.”
Labor has argued it will back the mine if it proves financially and environmentally viable.
However, last week Mr Shorten said he now opposed the mine and yesterday he was backed by Opposition finance spokesman Jim Chalmers.
“It hasn’t passed all the environmental tests yet, that is just a statement of fact ... and it hasn’t passed all of the commercial tests,” Mr Chalmers told Sky News. — Malcolm Farr