Minister for Employment, Skills and Mining
The Honourable Stirling Hinchliffe
12/04/2011
Will Seeney tear up Clive Palmer's coal exploration permits?
Opposition Leader Jeff Seeney needs to put his money where his mouth is and promise to tear up Clive Palmer's coal exploration permits, Queensland Mining Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said today.
Mr Hinchliffe said the Member for Callide's pledge to extinguish exploration permits for coal on a whim smacked of the division the LNP are known for.
"The LNP and Jeff Seeney have been running a long scare campaign in the Toowoomba area on this," Mr Hinchliffe said.
"They've made all sorts of hollow commitments after threats from Ray Hopper and Howard Hobbs.
"The fact is, Clive Palmer holds significant exploration rights in the Central Queensland area with permits just a few kilometres from Bundaberg.
"If Mr Seeney is committing to tearing up exploration permits in the Toowoomba area, will he also do the same when it comes to permits held by LNP money man Clive Palmer?
"Will the Member for Bundaberg and new Shadow Minister for Mines Jack Dempsey demand consistency for the sake of one of Queensland's most important industries?
"Or is it different because Clive Palmer is paying for Campbell Newman to fly all over Queensland?
"Campbell Newman declared all LNP polices null and void but it looks as if Jeff Seeney just couldn't help himself."
Mr Hinchliffe said the LNP was conflicted and lacking a clear policy when it came to Queensland's mining and resources industry.
"Campbell Newman wants to open up exploration but Jeff Seeney wants to shut it down and it appears the Shadow Minister for Mines who should be talking about policy has been rendered mute by the conflict."
