Adani details remain secret

THE State Government has struck a royalty agreement with Adani for its Carmichael mine.

But Treasurer Cameron Dick has confirmed the details of the deal would remain secret from taxpayers.

The deal, which was meant to be finalised in September last year, had been delayed for 12 months after the Queensland Government and Adani agreed to extend the period to finalise negotiations.

Mr Dick said the terms of the agreement were consistent with the Resource Regional Development Framework.

“That’s absolutely locked in now and that is something that we have now completed as a government,” he said.

The Treasurer declined to give specific details about the agreement, keeping in line with the government’s previous statements that specific details of the deal were commercial-in-confidence.

“I can assure you Adani will pay every dollar in royalties that they have to pay to the people of Queensland and the taxpayers of Queensland with interest,” Mr Dick said.

Because the agreement was made under the RRDF, this means the government will expect Adani to share their infrastructure with other commercial operations.

New Century’s zinc mine in northwest Queensland became the first in the state to make a royalties deal with the government under the policy earlier this year.

An Adani Mining spokeswoman said the company had signed the agreement.

Construction of the mine is on track to produce coal in 2021.

Australian Conservation Foundation campaigner Christian Slattery urged the government to immediately disclose the deal’s terms.