LNP calls Labor ‘ hypocritical’ over coal

STATE and Federal Labor appear to have split over coal, with the party’s senators last night backing a Greens motion saying it had no long- term future in Australia.

Yet last week Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk was in India meeting with executives from Adani as she sought to get the company to green- light its $ 21 billion Carmichael coal mine.

LNP senator Barry O’Sulli- van said Federal Labor was being hypocritical and undermining attempts to get the jobcreating project off the ground.

Ms Palaszczuk said the motion would not alter her government’s position, while Federal Labor back- pedalled, saying coal had a future “for decades”.

Four Queensland senators were among those backing the motion, which stated thermal coal has “no long- term future in Australia” and the Government “has no choice but to walk away from funding coal- fired power stations”. It also called for a transition plan for workers as the industry winds down.

Senator O’Sullivan said Labor was being hypocritical in supporting the motion shortly after Ms Palaszczuk’s India trip.

“They’re all over the shop like a rabid dog. This is sending a … conflicting message,” he said.

Federal Opposition energy spokesman Mark Butler de- clined to make comment.

Labor senator Anthony Chisholm said the motion was about highlighting that the Government had no coherent energy policy.

Senator Murray Watt said Labor recognised coal would play a role for decades, but that the Government needed a plan to assist coal workers whose jobs would be displaced as the energy industry restructured.

MATTHEW KILLORAN