Despite being from different Fitzgibbon and Christensen are both long term supporters of the coal industry in their respective electorates.

But in a controversial election result, which now looks like the NLP will not achieve a complete majority, the minor parties such as the Greens and independents may hold the balance of power.

This could spell bad news for new coal mining projects in the Galilee Basin such as Adani’s proposed Carmichael coal mine and infrastructure complex which has been criticized by the Greens party as being detrimental to the survival of coral in the Great Barrier Reef.

Greens Candidate for Groom Antonia van Geuns said last week that New Hope Corporation’s Acland coal mine expansion on the Darling Downs of Queensland threatens to eat up more prime farmland.

“We have viable job-rich alternatives in clean energy that don't cost agricultural jobs. Our plan for at least 90% clean energy by 2030 would create thousands of new jobs, mostly in regional areas,” she said.

“We've also put forward a $1 billion Clean Energy Transition fund to help workers and communities adjust to the transition with training for new jobs and plans to attract new investment to affected regions.”

Green senator Larissa Waters said the Greens have introduced three separate bills to give landholders including traditional owners the right to say “no” to coal and gas, and to ban fracking but the old parties have failed to support us each time.

“We Greens will always put farmers ahead of the big mining companies' profits, which mostly flow offshore, and unlike the Liberal, National and Labor parties, we don't take donations from coal and gas companies,” Waters said.

“We Greens stand firmly on the side of landholders, who appallingly still don't have a legal right to refuse mining companies' access to explore and, then later, mine their land in Queensland.”