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A FINAL act of the Newman government before calling the Queensland state election was approval for a controversial coalmine development by a company that had donated $650,000 to the Liberal National Party.
Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney announced that the Co-ordinator-General had approved the Acland stage-three mine late on December 19 as business wound down for Christmas and in the wake of the Sydney siege and multiple stabbing murders in Cairns.
He said the $900 million project would create more than 250 jobs during construction and another 435 when in operation.
The Acland mine expansion still requires federal government approval and the issue of a mining licence but Mr Seeney said the Co-ordinator-General's decision was "a significant step towards construction of this mine".
The...