MINING will end on North Stradbroke Island in four years if the Labor Party wins government at tomorrow’s election.
Create a free account to read this article
or signup to continue reading
The election commitment was made in a letter from Deputy Leader of the Opposition Tim Mulherin to Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation chief executive Cameron Costello this month.
The letter guaranteed a Labor Party government would repeal LNP government amendments to the North Stradbroke Island Protection and Sustainability Act made in 2013.
Repealing the legislation would force sandminer Sibelco to cease all mining on the island in 2019.
Mr Mulherin said the amendments to the Act were “one of the grossest abuses of parliament and democratic process” in the state’s history.
Cleveland Mark Robinson said undoing the amendments would result in the loss of 600 jobs on North Stradbroke Island and a $130million loss to the local economy and in state mining royalties.
He said the figures were from a 2011 analysis of the island’s economy conducted by the Stradbroke Island Chamber of Commerce.
“There are 300 mining jobs on the island and there will be 300 small business jobs that will follow,” Mr Robinson said.
“This action would guarantee a recession on North Stradbroke Island and impacts on Redland City in terms of job losses.
“The Labor Party has sold out Stradbroke Island for the sake of inner-city seats.”
Mr Robinson also said he was told Labor had done a preference deal with the Greens, who insisted on an immediate end to all mining on North Stradbroke Island.
Greens party convenor Penny Allman-Payne and Cleveland candidate for the ALP Tracey Huges both denied claims of a preference deal.
Ms Allman-Payne said Mr Robinson was misleading voters and said no party had the power to direct anyone's preference.
Ms Huges said she was delighted and surprised to find that the Greens How To Vote Card for Cleveland listed the ALP as second preference and the LNP last.
QYAC chief Mr Costello also rejected Mr Robinson’s claims about job losses saying it was "scaremongering".
He said there were only 110 Sibelco staff on the island.
“Repealing the Act does not mean mining will end immediately on the island or that any jobs will be lost,” Mr Costello said.
“Sibelco can still apply to extend its leases but this time under the Native Title Act, which is the correct procedure.”
Mr Costello said if the ALP won government and the Act were repealed, a high court challenge over amending the Act illegally would no longer be required.
Sandminer Sibelco spokesman Paul Smith said the miner would not, and had not, spent any money on an election campaign, unlike in 2012 when it spent $91,840 on advertising and support for the seat of Ashgrove.
Mr Smith said under the amended North Stradbroke Island Protection and Sustainability Act, the Mines Minister was allowed to extend mining on three island leases to 2035.
In the letter, Mr Mulherin also promised QYAC $20million over five years for an economic strategy to help the island’s economy adapt after all Straddie mining ends in 2019.
In his letter Mr Mulherin also said Redland City Council should pay to build infrastructure at One Mile. However, Redland mayor Karen Williams said Mr Mulherin had made an error and the state was responsible for the settlement.
A further election commitment from The Greens was for $20million to drain, sewer and put in electricity at One Mile, north of Dunwich.
