An Indigenous leader has grilled senior coalition ministers over the lack of consultation with traditional owners on a north Queensland dam project.
Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack rolled into Cairns on Sunday, bringing a downpour of rain with him as the wombat trail scurried north.
He was there to announce the coalition would splash $10 million on getting the Lakelands project shovel ready, edging it closer to being the first dam built in north Queensland since 1958.
Western Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation manager Brad Grogan interrupted Mr McCormack, Northern Australia Minister Matt Canavan and Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch during a media conference.
Mr Grogan said talking to "some fella off the street" didn't amount to proper consultation.
"We hold native title over the proposed dam site," he said,
"You guys are talking about all this money being thrown around for preliminary research and engagement, but nobody has knocked on my door.
"I was just wondering when that was going to happen."
Mr Entsch said he believed discussions with traditional owners had already happened.
But Mr Grogan said Western Yalanji hadn't been involved.
"We're in your electorate so you should know who we are," he told Mr Entsch.
Mr Entsch said it was a matter for Regional Development Australia.
"There is so many that claim leadership in this. Give us a list of those in priority," he said.
Senator Canavan said no money would be given to projects in northern Australia unless Indigenous people were fully involved.
"My understanding, and I apologise if this hasn't happened, is the process we have run is there has been consultation with traditional owners," he told Mr Grogan.
He said he was more than happy to sit down with any group because he was focused on jobs for first Australians.
Mr Grogan, who said the corporation was supportive of the project, told AAP he didn't want to add to his remarks.
The coalition trio were at Jonsson's Farm Market, with Mr Entsch getting time to stock up on potatoes and apples afterwards.
It's not exactly low-hanging fruit for Labor but leader Bill Shorten has visited Leichhardt during the campaign.
Mr McCormack said his presence had nothing to do with the seat, which is held with a 3.9 per cent margin, being in trouble.
"I just happen to like Warren. We're good mates, aren't we Warren?" he said, throwing an arm around his colleague's shoulders.
The veteran MP then blew him a kiss.
"That's too far," the Nationals leader joked.
After Cairns, Mr McCormack headed south to Mackay for embattled MP George Christensen's campaign launch on Sunday night.
