However, it has become political fodder for Greens leader Cassy O'Connor who has said the Tasmanian Government's "approval" of the mine is a "crime against future generations". Independent Clark MHR Andrew Wilkie has also traded barbs over the proposal and called for the government to withdraw its financial support.

What's important to note is the mine has not received a mining lease to begin operating but is looking to establish a coal mine in the state.

Development in Tasmania means the economy is strong and while climate change has loomed as a major threat to many, the reaction to this coal mine may be akin to throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

And something that is probably unknown to many, is that the mining industry has invested heavily into the environmental space, to understand how their operations impact the land and to develop strategies to minimise that harm. While our reliance on fossil fuels does need to end at some point, this won't happen overnight and there's a large time between today and any potential coal mine being operated by Midland Energy in Tasmania.

The mine will be subject to the same rigorous approvals process as any similar development and it is not yet a sure thing. There are many checkpoints (approvals, market conditions, for example) that might derail the process. The flip side is that it might be a great economic boon.

While a coal mine in Tasmania may throw up images of Adani in the minds of some, let's wait to see the proposal from Midland Energy before making assumptions.

As they say, knowledge is power, and making informed decisions on any development as potentially positive, or damaging, as this, should be how decisions are made.

It might be wishful thinking, but politics should not play a part in the approval process.