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New Hope hits out at government ‘double standards’ over Acland

New Hope has rejected Government claims that the High Court decision on its Acland project would be delivered next week and has accused the government  of double standards.

Oct 02, 2020, updated Oct 02, 2020
New Hope sees a strong future in a depleted industry (file photo)

New Hope sees a strong future in a depleted industry (file photo)

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has twice said the High Court would resolve the issue next week, but New Hope said all that was happening was a court hearing and no decision was likely to be handed down in the near future.

“The court decision is coming down next week, you don’t have long to wait. Everyone will know the answer,” Palaszczuk said.

The company said the fastest decision it could find on record was seven weeks and even if a decision did come down next week, the Government would be in caretaker mode.

New Hope chief operating office Andrew Boyd said while the company welcomed the approval of Olive Downs “we do question the double standards of this Government”.

“The Premier has said ad nauseam that New Acland Stage 3 will not be approved while there is court action pending.

“Why then has the Premier given the green light to Olive Downs when they are facing a Judicial Review on the outcome of the Land Court hearing?”

“We just want to know why we are being held to a different standard to other projects across the state.”

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The Government granted a mining lease to Pembroke Resources for Olive Downs earlier this week. It is expected to have 500 jobs in construction and another 1000 in operation.

“Let me make it clear we have ticked off on the approvals for that mine (Olive Downs) to begin construction,” the Premier said.

She said it was not correct to say that all of the Olive Downs mine was before the courts.

And New Hope is gearing up for an advertising campaign in marginal seats in Townsville and central Queensland telling people that this could happen to them.

The company said it would not be advocating for a vote for or against anyone, but would highlight that the company has waited 13 years for approval.

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