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| Adani protesters may have just got what their hearts desired. Picture: AAP |
In one of her first acts after she was officially sworn in this morning, Ms Palaszczuk has followed through on the shock announcement she made during the election campaign to block a loan from the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility to the Indian conglomerate to build a common-user rail line in the basin.
“My government provides formal notification for the Commonwealth that financial assistance should not be provided to Adani for the North Galilee Basin Rail Project,” Ms Palaszczuk’s letter to Mr Turnbull reads.
“As such, the government is exercising its veto right under section 13(4) of the Investment Facility Mandate in response to the Adani loan application.”
An Adani spokesman said the company was still committed to Queensland despite the veto, and insisted the Queensland government was still supportive of its Carmichael coal mine proposal for the Galilee Basin.
“We congratulate Premier Palaszczuk on her government’s election and look forward to working closely and cooperatively with the state and federal governments and regulatory authorities as we get on with the job of making all of our projects a reality,” the spokesman said.
“Adani Australia currently employs over 800 people and has invested over $3.3 billion in Queensland, which is one of the biggest investments by an Indian company in Australia.
“We would not be investing our time, money and energy in this manner if our projects were not viable and if we were not serious about delivering our projects which will ultimately generate more than 10,000 direct & indirect jobs across all of our projects.
“The projects are viewed in a positive light by the Queensland Government and considered as critical infrastructure investments. The projects continue to retain the support of the Queensland Government.
“Adani Australia will now fully consider and adjust to the constraints the veto of NAIF funding brings. Adani Australia is 100 per cent committed to Queensland, we have a strong regional Queensland presence. This will not change.
In response to Ms Palaszczuk’s letter to Mr Turnbull, Northern Australia Minister Matt Canavan said the Queensland government had “chosen to stand in the way of North Queensland jobs as its first official act”.
“It was the Palaszczuk Government that first asked last year that the NAIF consider a loan to the Adani Galilee rail project in a letter from the now-sidelined former Treasurer Curtis Pitt,” Senator Canavan said.
“But what the Queensland Premier has failed to say today is whether she intends to block all investment in the Galilee Basin.
“The people of regional Queensland deserve to know which jobs will be next on Labor’s hit list.
“I hope the Adani project proceeds because there are 800 people whose current jobs depend on it, and thousands of future jobs hang in the balance. If Adani does proceed it will be in spite of Queensland Labor not because of it.”
Under the constitution, the federal government funding must be facilitated by the state government to the private company.
Ms Palaszczuk said newly appointed Treasurer Jackie Trad, the state’s Deputy Premier, would write to federal Northern Australia Minister Matt Canavan to provide the same advice.
Earlier today, Senator Canavan wrote to Ms Palaszczuk about the Adani veto.
“I note an investment decision has not yet been made on Adani’s NGBR proposal but is unlikely to progress any further in the NAIF’s assessment given your announced position (during the campaign),” Senator Canavan said.
“This project is crucial to opening up the Galilee Basin and would mean economic growth, and jobs for many Queenslanders. I would appreciate if you could confirm by written notice that your government will veto the provision of the NAIF finance to this important project. Further, I would appreciate your urgent advice on whether your government intends to veto any investment proposals to the NAIF that seek to service the Galilee Basin, or more broadly in Queensland.”
During the campaign, the Integrity Commissioner wrote to Ms Palaszczuk and said she should not make any decisions about any NAIF applications, because of a conflict of interest created by Ms Palaszczuk’s partner working on Adani’s NAIF application.
However, she flouted this advice and said she would veto the loan. Ms Palaszczuk has not said what she would do for other NAIF projects, such as Aurizon’s application to build a rail line in the Galilee Basin.
Links
- Another Blow For Adani As Chinese Backers Pull Out
- NSW Coal Mines In The Pipeline Are 'Bigger Than Adani', Lock The Gate Says
- Queensland Election: How Adani Helped Undo The LNP's Push To Regain Power
- Why Climate Change Is A Key Issue In The Queensland Election
- Palaszczuk Says She Will Veto Federal Adani Loan As She Accuses LNP Of 'Smear'
- Adani Coal Mine 'Devastating' For Australia
- Jobs Bonanza? The Adani Project Is More Like A Railway To Nowhere
- Most Australians Oppose Adani Mine, Poll Shows, Amid National Protests
- Former Indian Environment Minister Says Adani's Track Record 'Leaves A Lot To Be Desired'
- Federal Court Rejects Latest Bids To Stop Adani
- Coal In Decline: Adani In Question And Australia Out Of Step
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