To do that, Adani requires an array of regulatory approvals from federal and state governments, including a mining lease and an environmental authority from the Queensland government and federal sign-off for dredging at Abbot Point. Indian billionaire Gautam Adani. Credit:Glenn Hunt Working for Adani are several staffers, lobbyists and consultants with strong ties to the Labor, Liberal and National parties. In some cases, Adani has hired people who have previously worked in the Queensland government in areas with oversight of elements of the project. Adani's key lobbying firm is Next Level Strategic Services, led by David Moore and Cameron Milner.

Mr Moore worked as former deputy premier Jeff Seeney's chief of staff while he was opposition leader for the LNP in Queensland, and was a chief of staff during the Howard government for MP Mal Brough. Mr Seeney and his former department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning have faced scrutiny this week as hundreds of documents revealed how they pushed ahead with a proposal to assist Adani with financing for a rail line to coal terminals at Abbot Point. The correspondence shows bureaucrats in Treasury and the department of Premier and Cabinet felt they were being excluded from key decisions about the project. After working on the campaign that led Campbell Newman to victory in 2012, Mr Moore left government to set up his lobbying business. His business partner Mr Milner has been a high-profile Labor party strategist and served as the Queensland Labor Party secretary from 2000 to 2004.

In Queensland, former senior government and opposition staffers must serve a two-year cooling off period before lobbying in areas related to their former official roles. There is no suggestion either Mr Moore or Mr Milner have done anything improper. Rather, the case serves to highlight what is described as the "revolving door" between politics and industries such as mining, in particular, or the food and beverage industry that has led to calls from parties like the Greens for reforms to lobbying laws. Brad Fish is another high-profile figure recently hired by Adani. Now an external consultant for the miner he was, until 12 months ago, the chief executive of North Queensland Bulk Ports, which manages Abbot Point, the site of Adani's coal terminals. Mr Fish did not respond to a list of questions about his appointment. In a joint statement, Mr Moore and Mr Milner said they made no apologies for supporting a project "that will bring vital investment into Australia".

"In supporting this much needed job creating project I note that Adani has worked positively with five governments of both political persuasions at state and federal level over some five years of development and approvals including some of the most rigorous in Australian history." Adani has also appointed staff with strong political links to manage its communications strategy. Adani's director of communications is Andrew Porter, who served as an adviser to prime ministers Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard, Labor leader Bill Shorten and defence minister Stephen Smith. The company recently hired Kate Haddan – former senior media adviser to Mr Seeney and former Queensland Minister for Natural Resources and Mines Andrew Cripps – in an acting communications role.

Ms Haddan said: "I have 10 years' experience in corporate communications in both the public and private sectors, of which more than seven years is in the private sector, specialising in the infrastructure and resources sectors for a diverse range of clients." She added: "I make no apology for supporting a project in an acting media adviser role that will bring vital investment into Australia." Greens democracy spokeswoman Lee Rhiannon said the extent of Adani's links to politics showed why the system should change. She said too often the major parties made promises about lobbying and transparency while in opposition, only to "drag their feet once they come into government". The Greens have called for an independent commission of lobbying that would report to parliament, and nationally unified lobbying laws.

Among the laws they have proposed is a cooling of period of five years before former senior staffers can undertake lobbying work in areas they have been associated with in their former roles. They also want details of all meetings between lobbyists and politicians to be published. "With this latest example, we can see why that detail needs to be available," she said. "It is incredibly important in terms of restoring people's confidence in democracy – public cynicism has reached an all-time high."