At a time where Queenslanders are struggling with record energy prices, Queensland has missed out on a staggering amount of royalties due to mining giant Adani selling coal essentially at “mates rates” to India, according to new research.
Thu 16 Oct 2025 16.00
Photo: AAP Image/Darren England
When coal prices hit prices of record $280 per tonne in 2023, Adani sold Queensland coal to Indian buyers for $100 per tonne.
The Australia Institute report found this drastically reduced the royalty payments Queenslanders were entitled to.
The Crisafulli LNP Government abandoned court action to recoup the payments earlier this year, a case that was started by the former Labor Government.
The Queensland Greens are demanding the Queensland Government to release the details of its secret deal with Adani.
“Adani has stolen $400 million from our schools, our hospitals, our housing system,” said Queensland Greens MP Michael Berkman.
“That money could have funded a public housing developer or a year of free school breakfasts, and instead it’s lining coal bosses’ pockets.
“This company has failed to deliver on jobs, failed to deliver on community infrastructure, failed to pay a cent of corporate tax, and now we know they’ve failed to pay the royalties that Queenslanders are due.
“Premier Crisafulli needs to show some guts and get Queenslanders’ money back,” Mr Berkman said.
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Australia Institute research director Rod Campbell said ‘budgets were about choices’ and pointed out that $400 million could have significantly helped some of Queensland’s most vulnerable people.
“Just as the Federal Government gives away Australia’s gas resources for free, the Queensland Government is now effectively giving away $400 million worth of free coal,” said Mr Campbell.
“That $400 million could have tripled the state’s $100 Back to School Boost payment for primary school students or paid for a year’s worth of free school lunches.
“The Queensland Government has to choose between letting foreign-owned fossil fuel companies dodge their payments or whether to spend more on services for ordinary Queenslanders who are struggling.
“After winning the federal election, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese spoke of ‘doing things the Australian way’ and of ‘progressive patriotism’, and this research shows that the Queensland Government could use a dose of progressive patriotism as well.
“Despite being one of the world’s largest exporters of gas and coal, Australians are paying high prices for energy.
“Meanwhile, the foreign-owned coal and gas companies like Adani are not just taking our resources, but they are really taking the piss.”
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Housing and inequality campaigners are urging Treasurer Jim Chalmers to go big in next month’s budget and abolish the full capital gains tax (CGT) discount and negative gearing, arguing partial changes will do little to ease the deepening crisis.
Australia’s rental market is now “less affordable than ever”, with new analysis showing there are virtually no homes available to people on low wages or income support. Advocates say the crisis reflects years of flawed policy, with Anglicare Australia calling on the Albanese government to axe tax breaks for investors and spend more on building public and community housing.
