The meetings, which took place over 12 months from last August, were categorised in the premier’s official diary as “portfolio matters” and only once included staff. The most recent occurred after Palmer renamed his coal operation, formerly Waratah Coal, to Energy A.
A redacted text message from a Palmer representative to a Crisafulli staffer apologised for a late call requesting a meeting. The reason for the request was blacked out under provisions that disclosure would harm “the business’ competitive position and, consequently, its business and commercial affairs.” The meeting was initially proposed at Crisafulli’s Broadwater electorate office, a five-minute drive from Palmer’s multimillion-dollar property holdings on the Sovereign Islands, but was later confirmed for Parliament House in Brisbane.
The Department of Premier and Cabinet’s Right to Information officer acknowledged that releasing the detail could “enhance government accountability” but said the impact on commercial interests outweighed that benefit.
Neither Crisafulli nor Palmer have responded to questions about the meetings. Disclosures in the state’s lobbying register by Palmer’s lobbyist, Malcolm Cole, and the diary of Crisafulli’s chief of staff, Richard Ferrett, described two related interactions as “commercial-in-confidence.” One entry referred to “discussion regarding Energy A’s proposed coal mining operations in Queensland.”
The revelations come as Crisafulli’s government adopts an unapologetically pro-coal stance, vowing to keep fossil-fuel power stations running longer and expanding state approval powers for mining. The premier recently said he would support a new coal-fired power station to underpin a major AI data centre near Dalby. Palmer’s own proposal for a coal-fired power station near Alpha was knocked back under the former Labor government.
Crisafulli’s deputy, Jarrod Bleijie, has also met with Australia’s richest person, Gina Rinehart, who lobbied him directly for Olympic rowing to be held in Rockhampton. Palmer’s Mineralogy made a rare political donation this year, tipping $3,800 into LNP coffers for an event ticket, while Energy A donated $5,000 to Queensland Labor for a fundraiser Palmer did not attend.