Solution for stalled jobs

12 NOVEMBER 2015: Thousands of jobs in North Queensland could flow sooner if Federal Labor was willing to back the workers of the resource industry. In parliament last night, I proposed a solution to the stalled Carmichael Coal Project, which would see construction begin sooner and thousands of jobs come on line. North Queensland has had enough of the anti-everything brigade dreaming up ridiculous excuses to stall job-creating projects in the court. It’s time the Australian Government recognised that the only hold-up was green lawfare through frivolous court challenges and legislated to protect this important project from vexatious litigation.The State Labor Government undertook similar actions with regard to a solar farm project in the Burdekin where the state government called in a local government approval that was being challenged in the courts. At the time, the Queensland Government justified the action because a state interest existed, in part, because: “The proposal will provide significant economic investment and activity to this part of the State through the provision of 200 construction jobs and five ongoing operational jobs.” (see the call in notice here) The reasons cited for the call in included: “If the matter is not resolved expeditiously, the Burdekin community could be deprived of an important new project that will contribute to much needed economic development and jobs for this economy.”Federal Labor needs to heed the actions of their State counterparts and support the Australian Government with legislation to protect jobs and economic growth. The State Government took action for the sake of five jobs so surely their Federal Labor colleagues will act in the interest of thousands of jobs.See last night's speech in parliament here.