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Mr Shorten has announced union leader Ged Kearney as Labor's candidate for Batman. (AAP: David Crosling)
Federal Labor leader Bill Shorten has hardened his
stance against the proposed Adani coal mine as he prepares to fight the
Batman by-election in Melbourne.
Mr Shorten has announced union leader Ged Kearney as Labor's candidate for the poll, which is expected to be held next month.Labor's David Feeney resigned from Parliament yesterday because he could not prove he has renounced his dual citizenship.
Mr Feeney was from Labor's right faction, Ms Kearney is from the left.
The Greens hold a state seat in the Batman area and they are optimistic they can win the by-election and will make their opposition to the Adani mine a feature of their campaign.
As he announced Ms Kearney as Labor's candidate today, Mr Shorten said the ALP is increasingly sceptical about the proposed mine.
He pointed to what he called scandalous allegations reported by Guardian Australia that it may have falsified samples and evidence when appealing against a fine for a discharge at its Abbot Point coal terminal during Cyclone Debbie last year.
Adani has denied the allegations and said it provided correct and accurate information to regulators.
Mr Shorten has called for an immediate Federal Government inquiry.
"If this is true then that is a very serious matter," he said.
"Adani does not deserve a licence to operate a coal mine if they are relying on false statements and false facts."He said he has become increasingly sceptical about the Adani proposal in recent months.
"The world coal market doesn't appear to be great economics for opening up the newest, biggest mine in the southern hemisphere," he said.
Kearney says she 'really can't see Adani going ahead'
Mr Shorten also pointed to concerns that jobs would be threatened in other mining regions if the Adani mine went ahead in Queensland.
And he raised environmental issues including coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef and potential impact on the great artesian basin.
Anti-Adani mine protesters were at the media conference as Ged Kearney was announced as candidate.
Ms Kearney welcomed the small group, telling them they are running a good campaign.
"I really can't see Adani going ahead," she said.She noted that earlier this week Mr Shorten had announced that Labor would be coming to a final view on whether to back the proposed mine soon.
"And I think people can get a fairly good understanding of where maybe that position will be," she said, indicating it would be opposed to the Adani plan.
LNP, Greens sceptical of Shorten's Adani stance
Federal Resources Minister Matt Canavan seized on Mr Shorten's comment with a post on Twitter that "once again Labor sells out mining jobs for green votes"."Is it just a coincidence that Shorten is pulling support for a Queensland mining project because he now faces a by-election against the Greens in Melbourne?" Senator Canavan asked.
Queensland Greens senator Andrew Bartlett has also suggested Mr Shorten is tailoring his position because of the Batman by-election.
"Bill Shorten is no Caped Crusader — we know there's an election coming when Labor starts to parade their green credentials," Senator Bartlett said.
He urged the Queensland Government to follow Mr Shorten's lead and rule out taxpayer funding for any new coal developments in the Galilee Basin.
Mine must stack up environmentally, Queensland says
Queensland's Labor Government said it still hoped Adani's mine project would go ahead, but a Government spokesman said the mine had to stack up environmentally.Anti-Adani activists targeted Labor in the November state election campaign, and Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk controversially vetoed a NAIF loan to the Indian firm.
Queensland Deputy Premier Jackie Trad said the contaminated water controversy would be examined in court, where Adani is appealing against the original fine by the Environment Department.
"I understand that that is an issue that will be pursued through the courts and that is the proper avenue," Ms Trad said.
"The Palaszczuk Labor Government in the last term introduced some of the most stringent environmental controls seen anywhere in Australia, including chain of responsibility legislation, including a revamped financial assurance model for large scale infrastructure projects.
"We make no apology for the fact that we have some of the strongest environmental laws in Australia, so I think that those laws should be adhered to.
"If there's any company — and I'm just making general remarks here — if there's any company that don't abide by those laws, then they should be penalised and if necessary go through the courts, as we've seen with Linc Energy as well.
"I think it's important to ensure whatever these allegations are, whatever the issues are, are properly ventilated in the appropriate court of law and it should be given its day there."
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