CARMICHAEL CHAOS Trad says report not ‘anti-coal’

THE State Government has dismissed claims an independent review of an environmental plan crucial to the progress of Adani’s Carmichael coal mine reads like a “anti-coal” brochure.

Adani Mining yesterday hit out at the Government after a draft report of an external review of its Blackthroated Finch Management Plan condemned its Carmichael coal mine.

“This draft report contains false statements about the management plan, includes sections that contradict advice from the Queensland Government itself, and even contains unverified opinions regarding climate change and other projects in the Galilee Basin which are outside the scope of the Black-throated Finch Management Plan,” an Adani spokeswoman said.

Deputy Premier Jackie Trad, who was in Townsville for a roundtable on the recent floods, dismissed Adani’s concerns about the process.

“(Flood recovery) has been my priority today, not claims put forward by Adani but my understanding is that this is simply a draft report, and Adani has the opportunity to take that draft report and raise concerns and make suggestions to the Department of Environment,” she said.

“They are an independent regulator, they have statutory responsibilities to conduct reviews such as this, so Adani has the opportunity to participate in this process with the independent regulator.”

Ms Trad denied the Government had “changed the goalposts” for the mining company and said Adani was “obliged” to engage with the external review process.

“This is the process that was set by the independent regulator in Queensland … now that is the process open to them,” she said.

“If they don’t like that process then the alternative is for them to essentially do what they’re doing, which is run a political campaign. But, at the end of the day, you don’t want politicians telling the regulator what to do.”

LNP North Queensland spokesman Dale Last said the Government’s “mixed messages” about the mine would ruin business confidence across Queensland.

“Adani and other resources are getting mixed messages from Labor here in Queensland and federally and that is bad, not just for them, but for business confidence throughout the state,” he said.

Mr Last said the Government was trying to appease Green groups in the cities at the expense of employment opportunities in the North.

“The only jobs being created in regional Queensland today are in response to a natural disaster,” he said.

“Unless we want to see our youth with no hope of a career, we need to act now.”

A Department of Environment and Science spokesman said the review of Adani’s management plan would ensure it was based on the “best available science”.

“The review, by an independent panel of scientific experts, was not to adjudicate on whether or not the Carmichael mine should proceed, nor was this question in the review’s terms of reference,” he said.

“The department … remains committed to working with Adani to assist in finalising the BTFMP.”

The spokesman said Adani was given a chance to meet with the panel and review the draft, which they declined.

“The department has advised Adani that it is prepared to provide the company with extra time to review the draft and provide feedback should they make such a request,” he said.