The Queensland government is trying to cut “green tape” to facilitate development of major mining projects and delays at the federal government level have stalled their progress.

When asked by Abbott what stood in the way of the development of the Galilee – which includes proposals by Clive Palmer, Gina Rinehart and the Indian Adani group – Newman went straight to the point.

“I said without any hesitation the need to see the massive Galilee Basin coal projects approved as soon as possible,” Newman reportedly told the ABC.

“Because they will see thousands of jobs created over the next few years and billions of dollars' investment in the state.”

Newman’s advice to Abbott was blunt: “It's really just to get out of the way and let this government get on with taking the state forward economically”

In August last year, the federal government approved GVK-Hancock’s $6.5 billion Alpha thermal coal project in the Galilee Basin, but animosity was sparked between Burke and the Queensland government over approval times for projects.

Burke said at the time he would “stop the clock” on the approval process because he believed Queensland’s handling of it was “shambolic”

He said the Alpha approval was granted with 19 strict conditions directed specifically at ensuring matters of national environmental significance were protected, including the Great Barrier Reef.

The Queensland coordinator general approved the Alpha project and sent his approval to the federal minister on May 31, 2012, the Queensland Minister for Infrastructure Jeff Seeney said.

“It has taken 59 business days since then for the federal government to give its approval – a relatively short timeframe for the commonwealth, which has taken more than 500 business days to make a decision in previous instances,” he said.

The Commonwealth EPBC Act provides 30 business days for the federal decision-making process.

Palmer’s proposed $6.4 billion China First coal mine and infrastructure development in Queensland’s Galilee Basin moved a step closer to reality with approval for its environmental impact statement from Queensland’s coordinator-general.

Coordinator-general Barry Broe said the project was also being assessed in a parallel EIS under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

Broe said the release of his evaluation report, including the conditional approval, came after more than four years of rigorous environmental assessment and public consultation.

Palmer’s Waratah Coal plans to build a thermal coal mine complex near Alpha, west of Emerald, as part of its China First project, which would be linked to a new coal terminal at Abbot Point by a new 453km standard-gauge, heavy-haul railway line.

Palmer said establishing the mine and associated infrastructure would create 6000 jobs during construction and 2460 jobs during operation.

Waratah Coal managing director Nui Harris said the EIS approval by coordinator general Barry Broe, with support from Seeney, was an important milestone for the China First Project.

“The EIS process has involved consultation with a significant number of stakeholders including elected representatives, federal and state government agencies, local councils, indigenous representatives, the private sector, public organisations and local residents,” Harris said.

“A commonwealth EIS will now be lodged with the Commonwealth Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities for review. Subject to the commonwealth review, it is anticipated a final EIS will be lodged with the commonwealth for approval in late October.”