Veto seen as helping Trad
LABOR Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has been accused of casting adrift thousands of jobs in regional Queensland for the sake of one job in Brisbane – Deputy Premier Jackie Trad’s.
As news circulated of Ms Palaszczuk’s move for the state to veto a federal loan to Adani’s Carmichael coal mine rail project, regional leaders reacted with shock and dismay.
Ms Palaszczuk claimed her decision was prompted by reports that LNP senators in Canberra were preparing to launch a smear campaign over her partner Shaun Drabsch’s role with PwC, which has acted for Adani to apply for a Federal Government Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility loan.
But Mackay- based federal LNP MP George Christensen said the Premier’s decision had nothing to do with any alleged smear campaign.
Mr Christensen said the claim was a cover to kill off the loan without taking responsibility for it.
He said that for constitutional reasons, the loan had to be passed through the State Government which also had a right to veto.
“She is doing it to protect Jackie Trad and keep the seat of South Brisbane from falling into the hands of the Greens,” Mr Christensen said.
Ms Trad has been under pressure over the Government’s support for Adani.
Mr Christensen said the development was “really, really worrying”.
“The question is whether or not this decision has just killed off the project,” Mr Christensen said.
“If they can’t get the finance for the rail line, commercially, I think it probably puts the project in doubt.
“A decision like this, when Adani is trying to secure investors, could put it at further risk.
“For the sake of one person’s job, the Deputy Premier’s in South Brisbane, it looks like thousands of job throughout North and Central Queensland are just being cast adrift. I hope not.”
Labor candidate for the Burdekin Mike Brunker broke ranks with his party, calling on the Premier to investigate other options.
He believed the Federal Government could provide a loan direct to Adani. He said for the sake of the thousands of people relying on the jobs there had to be other options.
“I’m surprised we can even veto the loan, that’s a surprise to me,” Mr Brunker said.
“I can fully understand her wanting to put a process in place to make sure her partner is void of any conflict.
“But if that means stopping the project, or stopping the loan, I certainly don’t support that, it’s just wrong.”
LNP Leader Tim Nicholls rejected suggestions of an LNP smear campaign.
“I know nothing of the rumours the Premier is referring to. I heard about them through the media just like thousands of other Queenslanders,” Mr Nicholls said.
Pauline Hanson’s One Nation deputy leader Sam Cox, also a candidate for Burdekin, said the Labor Government had put the reputation of the coal industry at risk through its incompetence.
“Through the questionable actions now of the Premier and her partner, I would not be surprised if there is some involvement by the Crime and Corruption Commission into that perceived conflict,” Mr Cox said.
“Questions now need to be asked also about any donations from Adani to either the ALP or the LNP
“Lots of explaining needs to be done between now and the state election by both old parties.”
Mr Cox said One Nation had always maintained that the Commonwealth should build and own the Galilee rail line.
Katter’s Australian Party MP Robbie Katter said they had always maintained the state should build the rail line to service all the potential mines in the Galilee Basin.
He wished Labor were as determined to build the Galilee rail line as they were to build the much more expensive 12km Cross River Rail tunnel in Brisbane.