Adani protesters throw black confetti over Qld politicians

Anti-Adani protesters this morning threw piles of black confetti over politicians during Queensland Parliament’s question time.

The action was to remind Queensland Labor they have only three days left to prosecute Adani for intentionally breaching its pollution licence by more than 800 per cent, releasing toxic coal sludge into the waters of the Great Barrier Reef.

In the last fortnight, 40,000 people have written to environment minister Leeanne Enoch appealing for Adani to be prosecuted.

Spokesperson Bella Ridout said, ‘Minister Enoch must back up her statement that Adani will not get preferential treatment. Queenslanders will continue to use their power as citizens and demand that Adani is prosecuted for illegally releasing coal sludge into the waters of the Great Barrier Reef.’

‘Adani has broken Queensland law. With only three days left, why aren’t Labor prosecuting them?’ she queried.

‘It’s no wonder a majority of Queenslanders do not want the controversial Adani coal mine. It’s time our government listened.’

‘Adani is seeking approval to increase the amount of coal that goes through its port, even though Abbot Point regularly gets extreme weather. The Queensland Labor government must make Adani clean up its act, storm-proof the terminal to prevent future pollution and put in place equipment to properly measure coal sludge pollution,’ Ms Ridout said.

Secret documents show Adani and the department of environment knew that the concentration of coal polluted water that flowed into the waters of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area was likely to be in the range of 500 to 900mg/L, well above the 100 mg/L allowed by even its temporary licence to pollute issued during the storm.

Adani was fined $12,190 but has refused to pay the fine, despite admitting to intentionally breaching its pollution licence by more than 800 per cent and allegedly submitting an altered laboratory report.

The company is also in court appealing a Queensland Government order that it examine coal-laden pollution of the Abbot Point Caley Valley wetlands and consider a new water management strategy, in an attempt to bully the government into a cheaper, less effective investigation.