Senator for Queensland, Ron Boswell today joined with the Treasurer, Wayne Swan and the Deputy Premier, Jeff Seeney in condemning Greenpeace and other groups over ads aimed at deterring Indian investment in Queensland coal mines.

“The ads in Friday’s edition of the Indian newspaper The Financial Times, describing Galilee Basin coal projects as risky business and warning of lengthy delays in projects and significant cost blowouts, are nothing short of economic terrorism,” Senator Boswell said.

Greenpeace, GetUp and BankTrack are waging a war on the Australian economy and Tony Burke must join his Federal colleague, Wayne Swan and condemn these extreme tactics in the strongest terms.

The delay in the Federal approvals for the South of Embley project and the Alpha Coal mine has given these extreme groups hope. The Environment Minister’s actions and the UNESCO reef report have reenergised the green groups who warn in the ad that they will fight coal projects “every step of the way”.

These guerrilla tactics are very damaging to the Queensland economy and will jeopardise jobs and economic investment in the state.

Tony Burke must take these green groups head on before the Australian economy and its reputation for investment and environmental stewardship are damaged for decades.

In recent days, the Environment Minister has stated that he cares about Queensland jobs.

Burke must act now to protect blue collar jobs as sooner or later, blue collar workers will wake up to the fact that there is nothing for them in the Labor-Green alliance.

ENDS