The ABC’s Josh Bavas reports (4.6.17) on the challenges facing the Palaszczuk Government as it heads towards the next election trying to balance satisfying voters with very different priorities in different parts of the state.
‘The Palaszczuk Government will have a balancing act to perform in the lead up to the next election, as it tries to boost resources jobs in north Queensland while still appealing to the inner-city Greens vote in Brisbane.
‘So how does one broad party like Labor fend off opposition from all sides? Political scientist Dr Paul Williams said it would be tricky.
‘”We call them ‘catch-all parties’ — they try to appeal across the political and ideological spectrum,” he said. “The Labor Party has to speak with twin narratives to address twin communities.”
‘”In north Queensland and regional Queensland it has to talk to voters and say, ‘No this Adani project is going ahead, we are going to offer you 10,000 jobs’.
‘”And then at the same time it has to talk to the greater Brisbane area where the Green vote is very strong. Really, there are two Queenslands: the south-east and the rest.”
‘A Reachtel poll commissioned by News Corp and released today showed support for the Government in the state’s north has dropped to 27.6 per cent to the LNP’s 28.8 per cent. One Nation has also sapped support for the major parties in the south-east.’
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Adani’s ‘green light’ on Carmichael coal mine more mirage than reality
Peter Hannam comments in the Brisbane Times (6.6.17) on the latest approval stage in the proposed Carmichael coal mine project, with the Adani company announcing it’s given ‘the green light’ to financing the Galilee Basin mine.
‘Sometimes, the lost desert wanderer does stumble into an oasis, replete with proverbial date palms and life-saving waters. Most such visions, though, turn out to be mirages.
‘And so it is with the latest bold announcement from Adani. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk materialised in Townsville on Tuesday too, to hear the company declare it had approved a “final investment decision” for its Carmichael coal mine.
‘”Adani Project Gets Green Light”, the Indian-owned miner trumpeted. Indeed, “pre-construction work” on the Galilee Basin mine is to begin in the September quarter on a project that has so far cost the company $3.3 billion – including the purchase of Abbot Point coal port.
‘The Carmichael projects will generate 10,000 direct and indirect jobs, it said. Interestingly, though, Adani omitted any number on the cost of the project. Is it $16.5 billion and Australia’s biggest proposed coal mine, as so often claimed?
‘A lot else was left unsaid, not least that the mine is yet to receive definitive financial close.’
- Adani’s ‘green light’ on Carmichael coal mine more mirage than reality »
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- Adani’s Carmichael coal mine green light raises more questions than answers »
- Adani announces ‘green light’ for Carmichael mega coal mine »
- Federal Labor feels the heat over Adani, and Coalition is sweating too »
- Adani royalties deal: Queensland’s ‘transparent policy framework’ kept secret »