Premier Campbell Newman asks prime minister-elect Tony Abbott to push through approvals for new coal mines in Galilee basin Premier Campbell Newman says coal projects in the Galilee Basin would create thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in revenue. Picture: File Source: Supplied QUEENSLAND premier Campbell Newman has asked prime minister-elect Tony Abbott to push through approvals for massive new coal mining projects in the Galilee basin. Campbell Newman said Mr Abbott called him on Monday to find out what the "blockers" were for the Queensland government. POLITICS: State LNP under fire from Abbott "I said without any hesitation the need to see the massive Galilee Basin coal projects approved as soon as possible," Mr Newman told ABC radio. Because they will see thousands of jobs created over the next few years and billions of dollars' investment in the state. He said he'd kept the message about what Queensland wanted from Mr Abbott very simple. "And it's really just to get out of the way and let this government get on with taking the state forward economically," Mr Newman said. He said Mr Abbott had also raised his desire to get on with jointly funded major road projects, including the Bruce Highway upgrade.