Comments by Deputy Opposition Labor Leader Tanya Plibersek

The Deputy Opposition Labor Leader Tanya Plibersek made a presentation at at the National Press Club on 20 February during which she is known to have challenged and dismissed Adanis’s ability to create jobs to which Adani Mining Pty Ltd provided a detailed\d response on 22 February 2019. Further to this, on 12 April 2019, Tanya Plibersek in an interview to a Melbourne radio station stated “we can’t rely on Indian mining company (Adani) to bring jobs to central and north Queensland” and went on to state that . “this project has to stack up to its environmental credentials and economic credentials”. This was seen as swipe at the Indian mining giant Adani which has already invested millions of dollars in Queensland.

In light of the recent announcement that the Federal Government has provided their approval for the Carmichael Coal Mine project, Indusage contacted both the Prime Minister Scott Morrison as well as the Trade Minister Simon Birmingham whose views on the project as well as the stand taken by the Deputy Opposition Leader have both been published.

In the meantime when contacted by Indusage the Deputy Labor Leader Tanya Plibersek has provided the following clarification:

“As we predicted at the start of this election campaign, Scott Morrison and the LNP will say and do anything to distract from their six years of cuts and chaos.

Australians should never have to rely on just one company for jobs, which is why Scott Morrison should back Labor’s plan to create thousands of Queensland jobs by investing in road, rail, and port projects.

As Deputy Labor Leader, I have worked to strengthen and deepen Australia’s excellent relationship with India, including on an official visit to India in 2014, and I’ve committed to extra funding for Hindi community language schools – if we are successful at the election, I will continue this important work as the Deputy Prime Minister in a Shorten Labor Government.

It is significant to note that since the visit of Tanya Plibersek visit in 2014 to India, other prominent labour leaders such as Penny Wong, Chris Bowen, and Jason Clare have all visited India, highlighting the priority a Labor Government would place on strengthening the bilateral relationship across all areas of engagement.”

The proposed Carmichael Coal Mine project as well as Adani Mining Pty Ltd have both unwittingly become a significant factor especially in Queensland for the 2019 Federal Elections – with both sides of the politics claiming that they have high regard for India and the trade relations with the Country. However, the fate of the Carmichael Coal Mine project as well as the future of Adani Mining Pty Ltd in Australia remains question mark if Labor wins the May 2019 election and forms the government.