The Adani Carmichael coalmine needs $1bn of government funds for a rail line because it is “a tipping point issue” to get the mine going, Barnaby Joyce has said. Joyce has previously supported the loan, although environmental groups warn it does not meet the criteria for the fund. Asked why public funds should be loaned instead of commercial funds, Joyce said that “amongst other things, it’s a tipping point issue to get this mine going”. Joyce said the cause of the damage was the cyclone which had also “pulverised the reef” and occurred because “it’s the tropics”. He said the Adani mine should not be stopped because of “dust blowing over a man-made duck shooting pond”.

Source: The Guardian April 10, 2017 23:17 UTC