The company said it was continuing discussions with Burke, who had “stopped the clock” on the Galilee Basin project’s federal government approval because he was not satisfied with the way the Queensland government had sanctioned it.

The Queensland government is asking the federal government to approve the project within 30 days as part of a bilateral agreement designed to expedite environmental approvals.

“GVK has a very positive relationship with the federal government,” it said in a statement.

“As a point of clarification, minister Burke advising that he is ‘stopping the clock’ by no means is to be interpreted that the project will not proceed, nor is it an indication of the federal government’s assessment decision.

“Rather such action is a legislative avenue Minister Burke has available to him so as to seek additional information and/or clarification of existing information from the proponent, GVK.”

Neither Burke nor Seeney at any stage made negative commentary on GVK’s approach to studying the environmental impacts of the project, the company said.

“GVK has always and will continue to have a positive and professional working relationship with all state and federal government assessment agencies.

“The work conducted over the last four years has been extremely robust and a very detailed process has been followed. GVK remains extremely confident of a positive outcome.”