“You would think that a Labor party would be on the side of jobs, on the side of workers,” Mr Canavan said, challenging Opposition Leader Bill Shorten to travel to Queensland to explain his position. “Don’t send missives off 2000 kilometres away from where this mine is [proposed], telling us all we can’t have jobs, we can’t have economic opportunity”. Labor appears set to oppose the project, but it is understood there is broad concern among MPs about how to assuage Queensland constituents concerned about high unemployment. A senior Labor source told Fairfax Media that Labor was “developing a plan for central and North Queensland [to support] their economic future”. Another Labor source said the plan had been in development for some time.

“I certainly think there is a thirst out there for people to hear alternatives to Adani, and if Labor is at the forefront of proposing them then I think that is solid electoral ground for us,” the source said. A Queensland Labor MP told Fairfax Media that jobs in renewable energy, manufacturing, defence maintenance and tourism could be created in place of the foregone mining jobs. Resources Minister Matt Canavan has accused Labor of selling out jobs in Queensland. Speaking on ABC Radio on Tuesday, deputy Labor leader Tanya Plibersek emphasised that her party “[does] need to have an answer for the people of northern Queensland and central Queensland about the sort of jobs they’ll be doing and their kids will be doing in the future.” Labor last month announced that, should it form government, it would establish a local advisory panel to advise on a $1 billion Northern Australia Tourism Infrastructure Fund.