Opposition pushes for progress on coal terminal

Wednesday, 22 Jun 2011

Opposition Leader Mr Jeff Seeney has accused the State Government of walking away from any role in the development of the Wiggins Island coal export terminal near Gladstone in central Queensland.

Mr Seeney says Premier Anna Bligh needs to tell the coal industry exactly when the terminal will be constructed. He also says the coordinator-general should be pushing the project along so it is built on time.

Mr Seeney said "The coordinator-general as his name would suggest has a very definite coordination role, but it's a role this government has totally abandoned. He said that because of that we have a string of major projects that haven't proceeded on time and therefore the economic benefits to the state have not flowed."

But the State Government has rejected claims it is responsible for ensuring the terminal is built on time.

Finance Minister Rachel Nolan says the terminal is being funded by the private sector and will be delivered in the coal industry's own timeframe.

Ms Nolan says Mr Seeney seems unaware it is being funded by the private sector. She said "The timeframe for the project has shifted because the private sector has not been ready yet to invest in its own economic infrastructure."

Ms Nolan said "The suggestion that the Government can somehow compel people to invest in things they are not ready to do is frankly absurd."

The terminal is owned and being developed by a consortium of coal exporters with the first shipments due in 2014.

(sourced from ABC)