Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said he is ‘frustrated’ with a court decision to revoke environmental approval for Adani’s $12.5bn Carmichael coal mine construction in central Queensland, given the size of investment and job creation potential.
The Federal Court overturned the company’s proposal saying that Environment Minister Greg Hunt failed to consider advice about two federally listed vulnerable species, the yakka skink and ornamental snake.
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However, according to Abbott, coal extracted by Adani would support 100 million people in the country.
He stated that the Adani group has already invested about $3bn in Australia in preparation for the project, which would bring 10,000 jobs to Queensland and elsewhere in Australia.
Abbott said: "So, this is a very important project, not just for Australia, but for the wider world, and if we get to the stage where the rules are such that projects like this can be endlessly frustrated, that’s dangerous for our country and it’s tragic for the wider world."
He added that, once such projects are fully compliant with high environmental standards, they should be allowed to proceed.
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By GlobalDataWelcoming comments from the prime minister, Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) CEO Brendan Pearson said: "New projects must be treated on their merits, not held up by vexatious and incessant legal appeals lodged by a small band of anti-mining protestors funded by overseas interests."
Pearson added that subjecting projects to interminable delays risks future investment in the sector.
Image: Australia Prime Minister Tony Abbott. Photo: courtesy of MystifyMe Concert Photography (Troy).
