ANNA IN PITT OF DESPAIR
TREASURER Curtis Pitt has rejected Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s pledge to block funding for Adani, claiming Labor would administer any Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility loan granted to the miner for its Carmichael rail line.
The Treasurer last night claimed the funding arrangements had not changed, despite the Premier last week sensationally pledging to veto any taxpayer loan to Adani.
In a statement, a spokeswoman for Mr Pitt said the role of the State Government “has not changed” and any state involvement was to “satisfy the mechanics of passing on federal loan funds” to private proponents.
Ms Palaszczuk unexpectedly withdrew Labor’s support for the NAIF loan on Friday, citing a conflict of interest due to her partner Shaun Drabsch having worked on the miner’s application.
The Opposition has condemned the move and pledged to fully support the controversial $ 16.5 billion coal mine.
Mr Pitt’s spokeswoman said NAIF loans were federal funds and flowed from the Federal Government to a project proponent, as “previously out- Curtis Pitt. lined”. “These arrangements still apply to any proponent seeking NAIF funds,” she said.
“The royalties framework announced in May remains in place for any new major resources projects in the Galilee and Surat Basins and the North West Minerals Province.”
Speaking on Radio National on May 17, Mr Pitt said the State Government had a constitutional link to the NAIF to “allow and support the Commonwealth” to run its federal program.
And in a letter addressed to Senator Matt Canavan dated May 29, Mr Pitt said the Government had worked with the Commonwealth on the Master Facility Agreement, which established the legal, financial and administrative arrangements for the use of the NAIF.
“This goodwill on behalf of the Queensland Government to sign the MFA is clearly aimed at assisting the Commonwealth Government in implementing its Northern Australia policy and reflects our commitment to further developing the enormous economic potential of North Queensland and creating additional jobs in regional Queensland more broadly,” it read.
The Premier has received heavy criticism and claims of a backflip on Adani after making the veto announcement on Friday. She has maintained that she has not backflipped and that her party had always been very clear with its “election commitment”.
“My understanding is we noted the NAIF processes but no decision ( was made before last week),” she said.
“At the end of the day, the people of Queensland will make a decision. And their decision is going to be whether or not they want taxpayers’ funds being used to sponsor this mine.”
Hinchinbrook MP Andrew Cripps said the Premier had left the people of North and Central Queensland in the lurch.
“It is extraordinary that the Premier, fresh from a tour of regional Queensland, waited until she went back to Brisbane to announce this disgraceful backflip,” he said. “We will support the NAIF loan if it’s approved so it can flow through to the critical rail project because we are pro jobs.”