Big Adani update
Posted by Christian Slattery, Australian Conservation Foundation.
Phew! There's so much going on with our Adani campaign, I wanted to make sure you’re all in the loop.
The good news is the coal is still in the ground. After nine years and numerous threats to start work, no-one has yet dug and burned the coal of the Galilee basin. Together, we are holding back one of the largest expansions of coal mining on planet Earth.
But the threat is real as Adani grows increasingly desperate to dig.
With people, livestock and wildlife suffering now from floods and fires, heating our planet by burning more coal is untenable.
And that’s why so many thoughtful, committed people have spoken out, donated, made submissions, and got active in local groups.
It’s a BIG campaign. Here’s a wrap of the news right now.
This beautiful finch is the canary in the coal mine
Birdsong. Crystal clear water in ancient aquifers. Oceans teeming with fish and corals. We hold these things in trust for future generations of children and wildlife.
But Adani’s 'plan' to protect the endangered Black-throated Finch is grossly inadequate and the bird could be wiped out forever. Adani plans to bulldoze critical habitat – and then later on protect “offset” habitat elsewhere. Like on the site of Clive Palmer’s proposed coal mine.
That’s ridiculous.
By law, the Queensland government must approve a finch management plan before Adani can start digging. But an independent scientific review conducted by ecologists and environmental experts was critical of Adani’s plan. So now Adani is throwing a corporate tantrum.
Adani is putting huge pressure on the Queensland government, bombarding them with billboards and radio ads. The Murdoch press is cheering them on. Scientists wrote back with an open letter saying Adani's "relentless, sustained and defamatory" attacks on scientists undermines the role of science in decision-making.
It is critically important that the Queensland government stands firm against Adani’s bullying. If they feel like the community is with them, they will feel confident to follow proper process and listen to the experts.
YOUR QUICK LETTER can make a difference. Will you send an email to Queensland decision makers Premier Palaszczuk, Deputy Premier Trad and Minister Enoch?
Did the Minister ignore the public? Our court case might be getting bigger
Last year, ACF launched legal action to challenge the federal Environment Minister’s decision not to apply the ‘water trigger’ to Adani’s massive water-guzzling pipeline.
On top of this, we think there may now be an additional ground for appeal we can run in the case.This relates to how the Minister considered (or did not consider) public submissions. Whether this ground has legs depends on some information the