The long standing animosity shared between Federal Minister for the Environment, Tony Burke, and the Queensland Government has culminated with the Minister accusing the State Government of 'environmental vandalism'.

 

In an open letter written to Premier Campbell Newman, Mr Burke flatly denied the allegations his office was 'sitting on' a number of key projects, going so far as to accuse the Premier of blatantly lying to his constituency.

 

" Given you have told the people of Queensland that there are a number of projects which I am currently delaying, it would be appreciated if you could let me in on the secret," Mr Burke wrote.

 

"Please either advise me which projects in your state are waiting my decision or alternatively provide some more honest information to the people of Queensland."

 

The heated letter comes after Mr Burke granted environmental approval for the construction of Hancock Holding's Alpha coal mine.

 

While the Queensland Government welcomed the move, Premier Newman wasted little time in urging Mr Burke to rubber stamp the South of Embley bauxite mine. A call that Mr Burke savaged in his letter.

 

"Let me be clear, if what you want is for me to give approvals without conducting checks, then I will stand in your way," Mr Burke wrote.

 

"If you want the Government to let you trash the Great Barrier Reef, we will stand in your way."

 

"If you want to clear fell every acre of koala habitat in south east Queensland, we will stand in your way."