The North Galilee Basin Rail Project is a proposal to build and operate a standard gauge rail line from the northern Galilee Basin to the port of Abbot Point, some 300 kilometres away. The project would have the capacity to move 100 million tonnes per annum of thermal coal, largely sourced from mines proposed by Indian company, Adani. The environmental impact statement (EIS) of the project is currently on display. The Australia Institute welcomes the opportunity to make a submission on the EIS, particularly the economic aspects of the project.

The environmental impact statement does not consider the costs and benefits of the project to theQueensland public. Instead, it relies on modelling of indirect impacts to give an unreliablepicture of the project’s economic influence. This approach is directly contrary to Departmentof Infrastructure and Planning guidelines.