QUEENSLAND – POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

Finch flies again to stall Adani

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Original article by Charlie Peel, Michael McKenna
The Australian – Page: 1& 2 : 3-May-19

Queensland’s Department of Environment has told Adani that its environment management plan for the endangered black-throated finch is unacceptable in its current form. The finch inhabits the region around Adani’s proposed Carmichael coal mine in the Galilee Basin. Adani is also waiting on approval from the Department for its groundwater management plan, which the federal government has already signed off on.

CORPORATES
QUEENSLAND. DEPT OF ENVIRONMENT AND HERITAGE PROTECTION, ADANI MINING PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE

Labor two-faced on coal

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Original article by Mark Ludlow, Luke Housego
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 6 : 1-May-19

The Queensland Government’s stance on Adani’s proposed Carmichael thermal coal mine is under scrutiny after it approved an expansion of Yancoal’s Cameby Downs mine, as well as several metallurgical coal mines. The government has been accused of double standards by Steve Smyth, the state president of the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining & Energy Union. Adani CEO Lucas Dow in turn has accused the state government of hypocrisy for taking out newspaper advertisements promoting its support for resources projects while continuing to stall on approving the Carmichael mine.

CORPORATES
ADANI MINING PTY LTD, YANCOAL AUSTRALIA LIMITED – ASX YAL, CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY, MARITIME, MINING AND ENERGY UNION OF AUSTRALIA, QUEENSLAND. DEPT OF THE PREMIER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, WHITEHAVEN COAL LIMITED – ASX WHC, PEMBROKE RESOURCES PTY LTD, MACKAY CONVEYOR EQUIPMENT, QUEENSLAND RESOURCES COUNCIL LIMITED, LIBERAL-NATIONAL PARTY OF QUEENSLAND

Job risk from $100bn mine rehab charge

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Original article by Perry Williams
The Australian – Page: 17 & 20 : 12-Nov-18

Modelling by EY suggests that mining rehabilitation laws that have been proposed by Queensland’s Treasurer Jackie Trad could lead to the closure of 16 mines and have a $100 billion impact on the state’s mining sector. The Queensland division of the CFMMEU and the Queensland Resources Council have jointly called on the state government to split its proposed legislation and enter into further negotiations over disputed aspects of the bill.

CORPORATES
QUEENSLAND. TREASURY, ERNST AND YOUNG, CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY, MARITIME, MINING AND ENERGY UNION OF AUSTRALIA, QUEENSLAND RESOURCES COUNCIL LIMITED, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, ANGLO AMERICAN AUSTRALIA LIMITED, PEABODY RESOURCES LIMITED, GLENCORE AUSTRALIA PTY LTD

LNP leader prepares state for a greener future without coal

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Original article by Jared Owens
The Australian – Page: 6 : 14-Jun-18

Queensland’s Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington says the state must embrace clean and reliable energy sources. She will commit to a policy of requiring state-owned electricity companies to invest in renewable energy generation if the Liberal-National Party wins the next election. The LNP previously supported coal-fired power generation under Frecklington’s predecessor Tim Nicholls, who stepped down after losing the 2017 election.

CORPORATES
LIBERAL-NATIONAL PARTY OF QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, QUEENSLAND. DEPT OF THE PREMIER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF INDUSTRY, INNOVATION AND SCIENCE, ONE NATION PARTY, STANWELL CORPORATION LIMITED

Surplus built on coal and more tax

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Original article by Mark Ludlow
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 13-Jun-18

The Queensland Government’s June 2018 Budget includes a surplus of $A1.5bn for 2017-18 and just $A148m in 2018-19. The government has also committed to spending $A11.6bn on infrastructure projects in 2018-19 and $A45.8bn over four years. This will contribute to a blowout in the state’s debt to $A83.1bn over the next four years. Revenue from coal royalties have topped $A3.77bn in 2017-18, after coal prices were higher than expected. The government will also raise an additional $A1.8bn via five new taxes over the next four years.

CORPORATES
QUEENSLAND. TREASURY, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, ADANI MINING PTY LTD, MOODY’S INVESTORS SERVICE INCORPORATED, STANDARD AND POOR’S FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC, LIBERAL-NATIONAL PARTY OF QUEENSLAND

Premier pledges coal supply to wary Japan

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Original article by Jared Owens
The Australian – Page: 6 : 31-May-18

The Queensland Government has assured Japanese steel mills that a dispute between Aurizon Holdings and coal producers will not affect the state’s coal shipments. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has held talks with Japan’s Foreign Minister, Taro Kono, after warnings from some coal buyers that the dispute could prompt them to seek alternative suppliers. Palaszczuk and Queensland Resources Council CEO Ian Macfarlane have both urged Aurizon to engage with the Queensland Competition Authority to resolve the impasse.

CORPORATES
QUEENSLAND. DEPT OF THE PREMIER AND CABINET, AURIZON HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX AZJ, JAPAN. MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, QUEENSLAND. COMPETITION AUTHORITY, QUEENSLAND RESOURCES COUNCIL LIMITED, NIPPON STEEL AND SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATION

New Hope mined area outside its Acland parameters

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Original article by Jared Owens
The Australian – Page: 6 : 31-May-18

The Queensland Government will investigate claims that New Hope Group has expanded production at its New Acland coal mine beyond the mine pit footprint which had been approved by the Department of the Environment, The allegations, which were made by the Oakey Coal Action Alliance, have been disputed by New Hope. Meanwhile, anti-coal activists have appealed against the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn a Land Court ruling with regard to the mine’s proposed stage three expansion.

CORPORATES
NEW HOPE CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX NHC, NEW HOPE GROUP, QUEENSLAND. DEPT OF ENVIRONMENT AND HERITAGE PROTECTION, OAKEY COAL ACTION ALLIANCE, SUPREME COURT OF QUEENSLAND, LAND COURT OF QUEENSLAND, ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENDERS OFFICE

Japan coal threat could cost jobs and billions

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Original article by Jared Owens, Matt Chambers
The Australian – Page: 1 & 2 : 30-May-18

Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation recently warned the Queensland Government that it may be forced to find alternative sources for coal due to a dispute between Aurizon Holdings and coal producers. It centres on the Queensland Competition Authority’s draft ruling on Aurizon’s coal rail network. Aurizon estimates that the ruling could reduce its coal haulage volumes by up to 20 million tonnes a year. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk will give assurances to Japanese steel buyers that the state’s coal shipments will not be affected.

CORPORATES
AURIZON HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX AZJ, QUEENSLAND. DEPT OF THE PREMIER AND CABINET, NIPPON STEEL AND SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATION, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, GLENCORE PLC, QUEENSLAND. COMPETITION AUTHORITY, QUEENSLAND RESOURCES COUNCIL LIMITED, LIBERAL-NATIONAL PARTY OF QUEENSLAND

BHP, Queensland settle royalty stoush

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Original article by Matt Chambers, Ben Butler, Charlie Peel
The Australian – Page: 24 : 30-May-18

BHP Billiton has secured a confidential out-of-court settlement with the Queensland Government over a $A329m coal royalties dispute that centred on the miner’s marketing hub in Singapore. The case had been slated to be heard by the Supreme Court in coming days, and the settlement will enable BHP to avoid disclosing details of the Singapore hub. BHP also faces legal action from the Australian Taxation Office over a disputed tax bill of $A87m. The case will be heard in the Federal Court in Melbourne on 31 May.

CORPORATES
BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, SUPREME COURT OF QUEENSLAND, QUEENSLAND. TREASURY, AUSTRALIAN TAXATION OFFICE, FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA, MITSUBISHI CORPORATION, WESTERN AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF TREASURY AND FINANCE, NEW SOUTH WALES. THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIA. ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS TRIBUNAL

Call for Adani to get on and build

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Original article by Mark Ludlow, Jacob Greber
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 23-Feb-18

Queensland’s Deputy Premier Jackie Trad says it is time that Adani made a commitment to develop the $A16.5 billion Carmichael coal mine. Trad reiterated previous comments that the Carmichael project needs to be viable in its own right, a view echoed by federal Labor frontbencher Anthony Albanese. Trad’s comments followed the revelation that Adani had backtracked on making March the deadline for deciding whether to make a financial commitment to the project.

CORPORATES
QUEENSLAND. DEPT OF THE PREMIER AND CABINET, ADANI MINING PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, NORTHERN AUSTRALIA INFRASTRUCTURE FACILITY