Won't back change

Queensland Natural Resources and Mines Minister Anthony Lynham said he would not support any watering down of the EPBC Act but conceded it needed to become more efficient to fast-track development approvals.

The Palaszczuk government is desperate for the large mines in the Galilee Basin to be built to help kick-start the state's lagging economy and fill government coffers with royalties.

Dr Lynham said he was still seeking more details of the Abbott government's proposed changes to the act.

"Generally speaking, I would not support any watering down of environmental protections," he said.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott is facing defeat in the Senate over environmental law changes. Alex Ellinghausen

"The Palaszczuk government supports job-generating resources projects that balance social and environmental impacts with economic development.

"But I would prefer to see government and industry working together to make the regulatory framework for mining as efficient as possible. Potential investors in the resources sector need certainty and Queensland needs the jobs their investment will deliver."


Senate support unclear

On Wednesday at least two Senate crossbenchers, Nick Xenophon and Glenn Lazarus, indicated they would not be backing the government's quick fix.

If one more follows the government will not get the change through the Senate. Senator David Leyonhjelm said he was inclined to support the government.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott is facing defeat in the Senate over environmental law changes. Alex Ellinghausen

Mr Abbott said the fault would be all Labor's.

"This is an issue for Labor, not for the crossbench, and I say again where does Bill Shorten stand? Does he want the Carmichael mine to go ahead? Or does he not? Does he want the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement to go ahead or does he not?" he said.

"The only time the crossbench has power is when the Labor Party is standing in the way.

"All projects in this country have got to pass strict environmental standards but once they've passed those standards they should be allowed to go ahead. They shouldn't be subject to endless legal sabotage because the law gives green groups an unusual level of access to the courts."


Federal Labor slammed the move as a "pathetic attempt" by the government to distract from its political woes and said the hold-up with Adani was "a rash reaction to the government's incompetence and failures being borne out in the courts".

"The government has been caught out for not properly managing the approval process for the Adani mine under the act," shadow environment minister Mark Butler and shadow attorney-general Mark Dreyfus said.

Earlier in August the Queensland government referred Adani's expansion of the Abbot Point coal terminal to federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt for approval.

Adani's $16.5 billion Carmichael mine, which is still being held up by two court cases, is still waiting for final environmental approval and a mining lease. The Indian energy giant also has to raise $10 billion in finance for the project.