Queensland Labor will veto the Turnbull Government’s $1 billion Northern Australia Infrastructure Fund (NAIF) loan to Adani.

Last Friday, the Premier announced that Queensland Labor will veto the Turnbull Government’s $1 billion Northern Australia Infrastructure Fund (NAIF) loan to Adani. 

NAIF is a Federal Government initiative and if Malcolm Turnbull and the LNP want to give a $1 billion loan to Adani, they will get no support from a re-elected Palaszczuk Government.

Queensland Labor went to the 2015 State Election with a clear set of promises regarding Adani and protecting the Great Barrier Reef – and we have delivered on every single one of those commitments.

We promised to stop the Newman-Nicholls Government gifting $500 million of Queensland taxpayers’ money to Adani. We promised that not one cent of taxpayers’ money would go to this company. We have kept that commitment.

We promised to stop Adani – and any other mining company – from dumping their dredge spoil in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area and we have kept that commitment.

We promised that no dredging could occur before financial viability and surety is secured. Adani is yet to secure financial closure and we kept that commitment.

We promised to ban the loading of coal ships at sea (trans-shipping) in the Great Barrier Reef marine park and we have kept that commitment.

The Premier’s announcement on Friday goes one step further to ensure a re-elected Palaszczuk Government will play no role in facilitating Malcolm Turnbull’s billion-dollar hand out to Adani.

I understand many people in my community hold strong views on Adani and over the last three years I have met with everyone who has requested a meeting to listen directly to their concerns.

I have also met with many Queenslanders – particularly in the North – who are desperately looking for jobs and financial security not only for themselves, but also for their children.

We have a responsibility to them to ensure any transition in our economy is just and fair. We cannot leave people behind.

I am passionate about action on climate change.

Our Labor Government has committed to zero net emissions by 2050 in accordance with the Paris Climate Change Agreement and we have signed the Under Two MOU with other sub-national jurisdictions (like California) to take action where our National leadership has failed.

Our 50% renewable energy target by 2030 has overseen the largest investment in renewable energy in Queensland’s history. In three years, investment in renewable energy projects in Queensland has gone from zero to $5 billion, bringing thousands of jobs with it.

We have also attempted to stop the horrific level of tree-clearing in our State. Over 1,000 football fields of native bush and forests are cleared a day – which is killing our native animals and releasing tens of millions of emissions into the atmosphere.

Queensland Labor has committed to re-introducing these laws and establishing a $500m Land Restoration Fund to incentivise farmers and landholders to keep trees in the ground and restore bushland.

But all of this is at risk.

Under a LNP/One Nation Government, led by Tim Nicholls, the renewable energy target would be scrapped, subsidisation of renewable energy initiatives will be axed and the one billion dollar NAIF loan will be provided to Adani. In fact, the LNP and One Nation plan to build a new coal-fired power station in Queensland’s north.

There is a lot at stake in this election and with every passing day the choice becomes clearer.

That’s why I’m asking for your vote on 25 November, so I can ensure the Adani NAIF loan is vetoed and we keep acting on climate change.

Kind regards,

Jackie Trad
Member for South Brisbane