New Minister ready to tackle extreme greens

SEPTEMBER 23, 2015: THE Liberal National Government’s new Minister for Resources, Energy and Northern Australia has wasted no time in addressing the issue of extreme green activism which is robbing the region of jobs and investment.Minister Josh Frydenberg has already noted the importance of Adani’s Carmichael Mine Project, and the threat to our economy posed by the campaigns of the extreme greens.He understands what’s at stake here, as their destructive extreme green campaigns will not only cost the people of this region jobs and opportunities; they are also likely to result in foreign investors going elsewhere for their coal and iron ore.Minister Frydenberg has already met with the Queensland Mines Minister Anthony Lynham, and he has indicated that the $5 billion Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility could provide the funds to build the Galilee Basin rail line.Minister Frydenberg stated yesterday: “If there is a good case and state governments are willing to step up, then you would think that rail is one of the areas where (the $5 billion fund) will go.”The Minister further stated: “Anti-development activism can create major delays in projects and send investment offshore, and you have to be very conscious of that when there are such large timeframes involved and we are competing internationally for investment in this country.""We are not the only nation in the world that produces iron ore or mines for coal.”Removing the roadblocks for the Carmichael Coal Project is vital for the region as well as the nation.There are workers in need of jobs, and businesses in dire need of work and opportunities.The new Minister for Resources and Northern Australia understands this, and I’m pleased to see that addressing this issue is at the top of his ‘To Do’ list.