LNP Opposition welcomes $21 billion Carmichael mine and the thousands of jobs it will create after two years of delays and uncertainty under Labor
• Labor has been dragged kicking and screaming to support the project – any attempt to take credit is an absolute sham
• Annastacia Palaszczuk must guarantee these jobs will go to local workers – otherwise she has failed Queenslanders again
The LNP Opposition welcomes the $21 billion Carmichael mine and the rich vein of jobs that will flow for thousands of Queenslanders, but is disappointed Annastacia Palaszczuk has taken two years to come to the party.
Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls said in the two years it had taken for Labor to get their act into gear, there could have been thousands of jobs created and hundreds of millions of dollars of royalties coming into Queensland.
“Today’s announcement is sweet because of the thousands of jobs it’s promising to regional Queenslanders, but it’s bitter because it’s taken two years for Annastacia Palaszczuk to come to the party,” Mr Nicholls said.
“Labor has been dragged kicking and screaming to support this project and any attempt to claim credit for it is an absolute sham.
“Annastacia Palaszczuk says these jobs won’t go to 457 Visa holders but admits there’s no written guarantee from Adani to ensure jobs go to local workers.
“I would have thought a written commitment would be wise to guarantee we can deliver these jobs to those who need them most.
“Queenslanders deserve a guarantee from Annastacia Palaszczuk on these jobs– anything less and she has failed them again. “
Shadow Mines Minister, Andrew Cripps, said as recently as three weeks ago the Palaszczuk Labor Government was still putting roadblocks in the way of this vital project, all to secure inner-city Green votes.
“Just a few weeks ago, the LNP led the charge in State Parliament to ensure this project wouldn’t be held up by further red tape from Labor,” Mr Cripps said.
“When we came into Government in 2012, this project had been languishing for years under the Bligh Government.
“We moved immediately to progress a Galilee Basin Development Strategy and the Coordinator-General’s Environmental Impact Statement process to get this project off the ground as quickly as possible.
“The LNP has been unwavering in its support for this project – it’s a shame Annastacia Palaszczuk and her Government have taken so long to see the big picture.”
