Albanese: Why Queensland’s coal project is like unicorns
ANTHONY Albanese says a new coal-fired power generator in north Queensland is as likely as someone seeing a unicorn.
During a morning interview on ABC radio, the Labor Leader refused to say if he would support a new coal-fired power generator if industry backed it, struggling with the same question that stumped deputy leader Richard Marles on Sunday.
"You may as well ask me if I support unicorns," he said.
The Courier-Mail revealed on Saturday the Morrison Government was spending $4 million on a business case for Shine Energy's proposed Collinsville generator about 250km south of Townsville.
But Mr Albanese said the project did not stack up and would not proceed because private operators would not "touch a new coal-fired power plant with a barge pole".
"It's not happening," he said.
"It won't happen. We do know that, we do know that because it's reality.
"It's like saying, 'do you know if the sun will come up this morning".
Former resources minister Matt Canavan seized on the comments to highlight Labor's continued problems answering questions about the future of coal.
"Unicorns sounds like a good description of a Labor voter in a north Queensland mining town, they're imaginary," he said.
"Hundreds of new, clean coal fired power stations are being built around the world powered by our coal. Why can't we build one here."
