The Palaszczuk Labor Government has finally run out of excuses to delay signing the mining lease for Adani’s Carmichael Mine project in the Galilee Basin, the LNP Opposition said today.

Shadow Mines Minister, Andrew Cripps, said the announcement today that the mining lease had been signed would certainly be a bitter-sweet moment for Adani’s Carmichael Mine project.

“Mines Minister, Anthony Lynham, must have finally run out of excuses to delay signing the mining lease and the LNP welcomes the project clearing yet another hurdle” said Mr Cripps.

“Adani will be pleased the Carmichael Mine has taken another step forward, but they must be increasingly frustrated by the Palaszczuk Government’s lack of support for the project” he said.

“While Central and North Queensland has been screaming out for the project to proceed, Labor has gone out of its way to increase uncertainty for the mine and associated infrastructure”.

“Don’t forget the Palaszczuk Government still has its unhelpful fingers in an approvals process, following an unnecessary intervention in the process to expand the port at Abbot Point”.

Mr Cripps said the signed mining leases come after a massive internal campaign within the Labor Party to kill the project by the green-left faction, led by Deputy Premier Jackie Trad.

“Minister Lynham has been politically hamstrung for the last 12 months because Labor has been divided internally about the Adani project – Jackie Trad has been winning that battle”.

“The reality is the signing of the mining lease is a reviewable and there were a number of other approvals required before the Carmichael Mine project had a clear run to move forward”.

“This is despite the LNP Opposition’s successful motion being agreed to by the Queensland Parliament, which called on the Palaszczuk Government to issue all remaining permits”.

“It’s taken almost three weeks since then for Minister Lynham to sign the mining lease – let’s see how long it takes him to sort out the Abbot Point expansion and the required rail project”.

Mr Cripps said while Adani had already spent more than $1 billion before being permitted to commence the project, Labor continued to use taxpayer funds to support green activist groups.

“The Palaszczuk Government funds the Environmental Defenders Office to lodge frivolous and vexatious objections against resources projects across Queensland, including this one”.

“Only the LNP has provided the strong leadership required to progress this and other resource projects to deliver jobs and opportunities for communities in North and Central Queensland”.