Queensland Treasurer Jackie Trad has denied the Adani approvals process is a "mess" and contradicted claims about how long it could take to get off the ground.
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Queensland's Resources Investment Commissioner Caoilin Chestnutt told Reuters environmental approvals could be given for the Carmichael mine in several months.
"I would guess, but it is an absolute mess, six months to two years," she said.
"They [Department of Environment] have said they [Adani] have to go back to the drawing board and draft a management plan."
However, Ms Trad on Friday said Ms Chestnutt was incorrect about the timing of the approvals for the Adani project.
Ms Trad, the Deputy Premier, said the state government's environmental management plan for the black-throated finch and a CSIRO report ordered by the federal government were detailed in conditions set in 2014.
"This has been a well-known factor in terms of the progress of the Carmichael mine," she said
"Quite frankly I think a lot of the hysteria around this is misplaced.
"It's a process that is going subject to robust scientific analysis and we don't make any apology for that."
Asked if she thought the mine could be approved much sooner than two years, Ms Trad said she did not know what Ms Chestnutt "based her commentary around".
"We do know that the draft report has been turned around in a number of months, the draft report is with Adani for commentary and discussion they are to come back to the independent environmental regulator to voice their concerns and we will follow the process," Ms Trad said.
"I don't think it's a mess, I think it's a process and the process is one that is consistent with the rules of our state and the independent regulator.
"[Ms Chestnutt] is entitled to her opinion but she doesn't speak on behalf of the government and I'm not sure what conversations she's had with the independent regulator on this matter."
Ms Chestnutt's agency is not responsible for issuing environmental approvals for the project, which rests with the Department for Environment and Science.
Adani has described a review of plans to protect the endangered black-throated finch, ordered by the state government, as reading like an "anti-coal, anti-mining, anti-Adani lobbying brochure".
Ms Trad, from Labor's left faction, did not say whether she personally wanted the Adani mine to go ahead.
"We have absolutely been on the record in terms of this, it has got to stack up environmentally and financially," she said.
"I am part of the cabinet that has made a decision that this project should go ahead if it stacks up environmentally and if it stacks up financially.
"My personal position is the cabinet position."
LNP leader Deb Frecklington said the Adani approvals process was "obviously an absolute mess".
"When you've got a senior bureaucrat of the Palaszczuk government going to India, when her role is to promote the resources industry, and she openly says the process is an absolute mess, I think people should believe her," she said.
