Carmichael mine rail link 'not a priority' for concessional loans, says minister

Under Abbott, Coalition considered offering Adani concessional financing for 388km line, but Josh Frydenberg says company must 'stand on its own two feet'

The Turnbull government has said a 388km railway essential to the future of the controversial $16bn Carmichael coalmine in central Queensland is "not a priority project" for federal concessional loans from the $5bn Northern Australia Infrastructure fund.

Under Tony Abbott, the Coalition had indicated it was considering offering concessional loans for the rail line. Adani's Australian chief executive, Jeyakumar Janakaraj Adani, said last month his company was negotiating with the federal and Queensland governments for financial assistance to build the railway to service the Carmichael mine, and potentially other mega-mines planned for Queensland's Gallilee Basin.