FARM and community groups in Queensland are preparing to target the retail network of Soul Pattinson chemists as a result of their links with controversial coalmining by New Hope Corporation.
New Hope has attracted interest from potential bidders worldwide but has become very unpopular with locals.
The retail chains are partly owned by Washington H. Soul Pattinson, which in turn owns 60 per cent of New Hope, the developer of the massive New Acland coalmine on Queensland's Darling Downs.
WHSP owns 24 per cent of Australian Pharmaceutical Industries, which includes Soul Pattinson and Priceline. API has 10 Soul Pattinson chemists in Queensland, including one in Toowoomba, the centre of the Darling Downs.
New Hope chairman Robert Millner, who also chairs WHSP, told shareholders at the annual meeting in Ipswich yesterday the company was on track to double output to 10 million tonnes a year with the expected approval of stage three of New Acland.
Even though the mine is located on highly productive farm land, Mr Millner was confident the expansion would comply with the state government's strategic cropping land legislation, and would be approved in early 2013.
The Australian
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