Federal MP, Bob Katter, has questioned the spending of $34 million by the Rockhampton and Townsville councils on an airport to service the Adani coal mine.
Katter says there is an “unpleasant odour” to the deal, and the fact the councils are being asked to pay for the airport raises issues of the mine’s viability.
However, the Townsville council says the financial contribution to the airport will secure 900 jobs for the city as one of the mine’s fly-in, fly-out hubs.