Shine backs mine

LABOR’S candidate for Toowoomba North has admitted he would be “disappointed” if the State Government rejected the proposed expansion of the New Acland Coal Mine.

Former MP Kerry Shine said he wrote to Mines Minister Dr Anthony Lynham in May after the Land Court recommended the rejection of Stage 3’s mining lease, pleading with him to green-light the project.

A long-time advocate of the New Hope-owned coal project, Mr Shine said he would have to accept the outcome if Dr Lynham refused it, but said jobs were at stake.

“I would be disappointed if Stage 3 doesn’t go ahead, but at the end of the day you’ve got to accept the decision if that was the case,” he said.

“I’m a Labor member and I support jobs in the area.”

New Hope’s bid to review tribunal member Paul Smith’s findings won’t be heard until early next year, but Dr Lynham indicated that he expected to make a decision on New Acland by January.

A former lawyer, Mr Shine said he would prefer to wait until legal proceedings had finished before making a decision, but respected whatever choice Dr Lynham made.

“Any delay in the legal proceedings is something not to be desired, but this was a historic, lengthy case,” he said.

“If it were me, I’d want to wait, but he would have his own advice, and knowing Anthony, he would know the correct process.”

Mr Shine faces an uphill battle to win back his old seat from incumbent Trevor Watts, who has held it since 2012.

The marginal electorate was declared one of the key seats in Queensland by political experts in 2015, with the difference between votes expected to be tight once again.