Inner-city voters blamed for delay

CONDAMINE MP Pat Weir says the Queensland Government hasn’t approved the New Acland coal mine stage three expansion because Labor MPs are trying to appeal to innercity voters ahead of the October election.

Using a speech in parliament on Thursday morning, Mr Weir said the government could easily sign off on New Acland if it wanted to.

“The Premier is like a broken record when asked about this project: ‘the matter is before the court’,” he said.

“Everyone in the house knows that.

“That is always the response. Everyone in the house knows that Minister (Anthony) Lynham could approve the mine with the stroke of a pen, just as this government did with Adani.

“The New Acland situation has nothing to do with water, dust or noise. There are no environmental conditions at all.

“There is only one reason this has not been passed, and it is green votes in the inner city.”

Mines Minister Anthony Lynham refused to be drawn into whether the government was stalling mine approvals to appease Greens voters when questioned at the opening of the Warwick Solar Farm yesterday.

“In 2017, the Premier was firm when she said we have to wait until this is through the court process, and that’s what we’re doing,” he said.

The mine is facing a legal battle in the High Court from environmental activists.

In the past week, three federal Labor politicians expressed their support for the mine expansion and called on the Queensland Government to approve it.