Queensland's Labor government denies it is trying to save itself by finally stepping in to resolve approval processes that have delayed the Adani coal mine.
Regional Queensland voters thumped Labor at last weekend's federal election.
Political commentators argue a key factor was the way the state Labor government has handled Adani's project.
Earlier this year, Adani launched an ad blitz asking the Queensland government to “stop moving the goal posts” and give the company a “fair go”.
The company also said it would create 1500 jobs and will target having at least 7.5 per cent of its workers from Indigenous communities.
Deputy Premier Jackie Trad insists her government's position on the mine has not changed, despite the premier's decision on Wednesday to step in.
But she said the state government had heard voters in regional Queensland, who want mining jobs.
"I certainly think the election result on Saturday night had messages for Labor at a state and federal level," she told ABC radio on Thursday.
"I think the Carmichael mine ... was part of that message, but it wasn't the entire message."
She said there were many other factors that fed into federal Labor's defeat, including Bill Shorten's leadership and concern about taxation.
"The federal election was not just about Adani."
A supplied image obtained Tuesday, March 26, 2019 of the Adani Abbot Point coal terminal and the Caley Valley Wetlands, Saturday, February 9, 2019. Source: AAP Image/Supplied by the Australian Conservation Foundation, Gary Farr
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk travelled to the Hay Point coal terminal in Mackay on Wednesday, telling reporters she was "fed up" with the impasse over Adani, which still needs state approvals for its bird and water management plans.
Adani will also have to contend with further court action. Its lawyers are fending off appeals against the proposed mine by the Wangan and Jagalingou Traditional Owners Council, which will be heard in the Federal Court on May 27 and 28.
If the appeal is successful, the mine may only proceed if the Queensland government exercises its ability to extinguish native title.
"I think that the community is fed up with the processes, I know I'm fed up with the processes, I know my local members are fed up with the processes," she said.
"We need some certainty and we need some time frames - enough is enough."
"I think the federal election was definitely a wake-up call for everyone. I hear that message."
Queensland's Coordinator-General has been called in to oversee outstanding approval processes, and the premier hopes Thursday's meeting between Adani and the environment department will give her a definite time frame by Friday.
Ms Trad said there were still no guarantees of a green light for Adani, and that the independence of the environment department, as the regulator, could not be undermined.
The South Brisbane MP, who survived a strong challenge from the Greens at the last state poll, denied the premier's actions were politically self-serving.
"We make decisions in the interests of all Queenslanders," she said.
With AAP
