Anti-Adani activists have a tight schedule this week: targeting Queensland MPs today, Richmond MP Justine Elliott tomorrow, and on Wednesday hearing from North Coast Greens MP Dawn Walker, who was arrested at the mine site.
Tweed campaigners against the controversial Adani coal mine project in Queensland are gathering at Queensland’s parliament this morning in a bid to stop taxpayer funding for a proposed rail line in the Galilee basin.
Queensland MPs are due to vote on funding the Aurizon’s proposed rail line on February 13.
Tomorrow the campaigners will move their attention to Federal Labor MP Justine Elliott’s office in Minjungbal Drive, Tweed Heads South (opposite Tweed City), planning to gather at 10.30am.
They will demand she uses her influence to convince the ALP to change its federal policy to ‘no new coal mines’, and to highlight that its pro-coal mine policies are at odds with their climate action policies and with what most Labor voters want.
Despite experts saying that we must move away from coal and other fossil fuels to successfully combat climate change, the Australian Labor Party is planning a massive expansion of the coal mining industry if they win office, the group says.
‘The justification for new coal mines is economic growth and job creation,’ according to Stop Adani Tweed spokesperson Barry Firth.
‘However, much of the mining industry is automated and as we know there are no jobs or prosperity on a dead planet.
‘Only 1,494 jobs would be created as a result of the Adani coal mine. With more than 69,000 tourism-related jobs at stake if we allow coal to trash the Great Barrier Reef.
‘We believe that if the Labor Party abandoned its pro-coal policies and fully supported renewables it would send a strong message to mining companies and investors that there is no long-term certainty or viability in the coal mining industry,’ Mr Firth said.
Meanwhile, North Coast Greens MP Dawn Walker will be speaking about her recent visit to the frontline of the Adani mine site at an evening of conversation and short film from 7:15 pm on Wednesday in Mullumbimby.
Ms Walker was arrested at the Adani site blockading with other climate activists to protect climate and country from this destructive mega-mine.
‘I was proud to stop work on the Adani mine and be arrested with climate activists who understand the importance of preventing this destructive project from going ahead,’ Ms Walker said.
‘Traditional owners have said ‘no means no’ to Adani and made it clear they will not be surrendering their land and water to this coal corporation.
‘I’m appalled by the way this mine is tearing Indigenous communities apart and offering a sub-standard agreement to traditional owners for their land, with little economic opportunity,
‘Although this mine is miles from anywhere, the eyes of all Australia are on it. We travelled days to get there, but believe many more will follow.’
The evening is hosted by the Stop Adani Byron Shire group at Wildspace Mullumbimby at 91 Main Arm Road, Mullumbimby and will include a screening of Dawn’s short film from the trip.
Entry is free and will begin at 7:15PM.
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