The Queensland government’s approval of Clive Palmer’s latest coal mine and rail project shows a blatant disregard for the thousands of jobs that will be lost as a result, according to The Australia Institute.

Waratah Coal’s own economic impact statement shows the China First mine will see 3,000 people losing their jobs, primarily across Queensland.

“Even the mine’s proponents admit that this mine will harm the state’s other crucial industries,” The Australia Institute’s Executive Director, Dr Richard Denniss said.

“The fact the Coordinator General has acknowledged that this damage will occur and still approved the mine is a slap in the face for Queensland’s major industries.”

According to The Australia Institute’s analysis of the economic impact statement commissioned by Waratah Coal to help make the case for the China First mine, the consequences of the mine’s approval for the broader economy include:

• 3,000 jobs lost primarily across Queensland, particularly in manufacturing, agriculture and tourism
• $1.2 billion of manufacturing activity will be lost
• Small and medium sized businesses will be hit with higher bills for payroll and rent
• Housing affordability will decline for those who are not employed in the new mine

“There is no doubt that this mine is good for its owners, but Clive Palmer’s own modelling makes it clear that the broader Queensland economy will pay a high price for his profits,” Dr Denniss said.

“Premier Newman includes agriculture and tourism in his so-called four pillar economy policy, but today he appears to be saying mining is more important.

“How the Coordinator General could recognise the flow-on effects of the mine’s approval and still give it the green light is simply bizarre.”

Dr Richard Denniss co-authored a major report on the Australian mining industry, titled Mining the truth: The rhetoric and reality of the commodities boom, available at www.tai.org.au