The construction of the Adani coal mine has been delayed after the Queensland government rejected Adani’s plan to protect an endangered bird that inhabits the surrounding region.

The regulators said Adani’s Black-throated Finch Management Plan “did not meet requirements”.

The independent report into the Finch plan was led by Melbourne University ecologist Brendan Wintle.

Adani Mining Australia CEO Lucas Dow tells Ray Hadley the report could have been influenced by an anti-coal stance.

“They have referenced the so-called independent Wintle report.

“The people that are involved in that organisation, that Professor Wintle heads up, it’s got a host of members who hold an anti-coal, anti-mining, anti-Adani agenda.”

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Finch breeder Gordon Doutre tells Chris Smith the birds need to be bred properly.

“They are becoming rarer.

“What the government needs to do is harness the agriculturalists around to… [acclimatise these birds] then reintroduce them at the right times back into areas.”

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