Who cares what the mine is for? Whether it's coal or copper, why should a giant Indian conglomerate get a 8-10 figure handout from our taxes? If they can't make the numbers work they can go elsewhere and someone else can have a go. The government has no business funding it unless it's going to be our new revenue-generating nationally owned mining company.
How much extra flying work does Flying Binghi really think a FIFO airstrip will generate? I suspect he doesn't particularly care he just wants to see more coal mines built.