Quote:

PREMIER Campbell Newman has promised to send a delegation to Canberra tomorrow to sort out the escalating war between the Queensland and Federal governments over the massive Alpha Coal project. The war of words heated up this morning, with Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke taking to Brisbane radio to condemn the Newman Government, prompting Mr Newman to call in to defend himself. Both sides accused each other of playing games for political gain. Mr Newman said Mr Burke had no problem with the Alpha Coal project before the state election but had now chosen to pick a political fight with the LNP. He said the state's environmental approval had been "exhaustive" and dated back to pre-LNP days. Mr Burke fired back, saying the State clearly didn't get understand the significance of issue, which he said was "not some fringe latte-set issue, we're talking about the (Great Barrier) Reef". He said the State's assessment failed to address the potential impact of development on turtles and dugongs. Mr Newman said the Federal Government needed to be specific about their concerns over alleged holes in the State's environmental assessment of the Alpha Coal project, but Mr Burke said he had sent the Queensland Government a 17-page letter detailing the concerns. Mr Newman pledged to send his deputy Jeff Seeney and a cohort of state officials to Canberra tomorrow, despite a scheduled State Parliament sitting. "I'll send Mr Seeney down there tomorrow but Mr Burke better sit down and meet with him in good faith and sort this out and stop the grand-standing," he told ABC Radio. The fight has been raging over the past week and stepped up a gear yesterday when Mr Burke threatened to suspend the Newman Government's involvement in all major projects, arguing it had mishandled the assessment of Alpha Coal, a $6.4 billion project within the Galilee Basin. 6 comments on this story

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/campbell-newman-tony-burke-in-radio-slanging-match-over-alpha-coal-project/story-e6freoof-1226385700597

progressive, going forward, just all depends on which way you are facing, but the lemmings of the left will lap it up regardless. They just love words like progressive so they feel better about being deceived and routed and used like cattle.

Who cares about the bloody Dugongs, fat ugly things they are, and turtles ha! what good do they do? One thing for sure, turtles and dugongs won't make us rich, it's coal with a capital C for the 21st century.

bugger the barrier reef! Who needs it? Flamin' thing gets in the way of the coal ships anyway. Dig the bastard up I say! Sell it to a toothpaste manufacturer or something! THEN it'll be worth a buck!!

At least Newman is taking decisive action, and isnt making his stand on the radio.

Good on him for sending a team down tomorrow to sort it out.  About time pollies put things into action, not just pissing and moaning back and forth for months.

Whatever the outcome, Newman is showing leadership while Tony Bourke looks ametuerish.

Coal will bring in a never ending stream of mega income where as the Barrier Reef is avoided by international tourists and has always been a drain on the economy.
I say blow the reef up before it sinks our infinite and precious supply of fossil fuel cargo!