21 C
Byron Shire
March 29, 2024

Adani launches legal proceedings as traditional owners evict Adani

Latest News

Blue skies for Bluesfest day 1

If yesterday at Bluesfest was anything to go by, it's going to be an incredible event and with the weather holding, (so far) the Easter weekend's future is looking bright.

Other News

Iconic Lennox beach shed upgraded –  not demolished

Lennox Park and the shelter shed has now been upgraded and reopened.

Heavy traffic on M1 predicted over Easter long weekend

Bottlenecks in Northern NSW are predicted to occur at Coffs Harbour and Tugun over the Easter long weekend. This is expected to be further impacted by work on the Pacific Highway just north of the Queensland border.

A health check as Medicare turns 40

If you’ll forgive the earnest tone, I’d like to propose a toast. To a friend who’s almost always there when you need them most. To a system that aims to treat people fairly and respectfully. 

Where should affordable housing go in Tweed Shire?

Should affordable and social housing in the Tweed Shire be tucked away in a few discreet corners? Perhaps it should be on the block next to where you live?

Way of the dog

One of the more disappointing aspects of the decline of Byron Bay, and I have a long list, is...

UK court seeks assurances from US over Julian Assange

The UK High Court of Justice has released a 66 page judgement seeking more information from the United States relating to Australian citizen Julian Assange, which it says it needs before deciding whether to grant the WikiLeaks founder leave to appeal his extradition.

Activist Ben Pennings. Photo Facebook.

As Adani launches legal action against activist Ben Pennings for his organisation of anti-Adani campaigning traditional owners of the mine’s access route are restricting access to the mine site.

Harassment and intimidation

According to Adani they have ‘launched civil legal proceedings against anti-fossil fuel activist Ben Pennings to protect our rights, as well as those of our employees and contractors, to carry out legal and legitimate business activities free from intimidation and harassment.

Adani is claiming that Mr Pennings has orchestrated a sustained campaign of harassment and intimidation against Adani’s business, employees, contractors and potential business partners spanning almost a decade.

According to their press release ‘The civil legal action seeks to limit the campaign of alleged harassment and intimidation orchestrated by Mr Pennings against our business that aims to prevent us from legally and legitimately pursuing our commercial interests.’

Mr Pennings is currently seeking legal advice prior to commenting to the media.

Representing the traditional owners Adrian Burragubba said that ‘Today we are re-establishing tribal control of our home lands. Photo supplied.

Traditional owners evict Adani

In the mean time traditional owners of the Wangan and Jagalingou country leading to the Adani Carmichael Coal Mine are attempting to evict Adani from using their homelands.

They say they issued ‘Adani Australia with an eviction notice at the company’s offices in Brisbane, Townsville and at the Carmichael mine site, last Thursday’.

‘Starting today, Traditional Owners will restrict Adani, and their contractors, movement to and from the mine site.

Re-establishing tribal control

Representing the traditional owners Adrian Burragubba said that ‘Today we are re-establishing tribal control of our home lands.

‘Adani are operating without authorisation within our boundaries.

‘Adani have cleared land which is home to many sacred totemic animals.

‘It is our duty as Wangan and Jagalingou people to act against Adani’s Carmichael project that interferes with our ancient law and custom.

Illegal land grab

They say they do not accept the Queensland governments extinguishment of their native title on the lands and its provision to Adani for mining.

‘We do not acknowledge the Queensland government’s illegal land grab. We do not acknowledge any sham Adani agreements that were created without free, prior and informed consent of the Wangan and Jagalingou people,’ said Mr Burragubba.

‘We demand an end to the destruction of our unceded territory. We demand Adani Australia abandon their Carmichael mine project immediately. We want them out, we want them to pack up and leave our tribal lands.

‘We, the original Wangan and Jagalingou people, believe that it is our inalienable right given to us by our ancestors, to oppose the compulsory acquisition of all our lands and waters within our borders,’ he says.

‘As tribal warriors we will fight to defend our sovereignty and territorial integrity.

‘We have been fighting colonisation in Wangan and Jagalingou territory since 1860. We have been fighting against Adani’s mine for 10 years, and we will continue to do so.

‘As the tribal warriors of the Wangan and Jagalingou people we will stand our ground.’


Support The Echo

Keeping the community together and the community voice loud and clear is what The Echo is about. More than ever we need your help to keep this voice alive and thriving in the community.

Like all businesses we are struggling to keep food on the table of all our local and hard working journalists, artists, sales, delivery and drudges who keep the news coming out to you both in the newspaper and online. If you can spare a few dollars a week – or maybe more – we would appreciate all the support you are able to give to keep the voice of independent, local journalism alive.

8 COMMENTS

  1. Brilliant!!! All power to the Wagan & Jagalingou people for defending their territory… Shame on the Queensland government for the land grab, as if the local custodians have no rights… So thrilled to know tribal warriors are reclaiming their rights & protecting the land & environment where government fails miserably…

  2. Go Kids !,
    The federal government, and the disgraceful state ‘ Labor ‘ government, are not acting in the interest of Australians. To my mind this means they are not a legitimate government, and have no authority to stop those who are acting to preserve this nation from foreign exploitation and environmental destruction, in order to acquire fossil fuel that will ultimately be to the detriment of the entire planet.
    If there is any sanity in this situation it does NOT reside with our illustrious leaders, who are far too busy selling us out to the most evil entities.
    Cheers, G”)

  3. Native Title, doesn’t seem to count for much really when Indigenous people want to protect their land and that land just happens to hold some sort of mineral value underground.

  4. Well… there’s no surprises in this neck of the woods.
    It had to happen. The Premier & Adani are on notice
    for believing they could ride rough-shod over First
    Nation people. That’s certainly dumb. Adani’s push
    & shove – along with threats – have created the very
    problem that now exists. The people were lied to by
    Adani. Worse still, the QLD government seemed to
    believe that the mine could go ahead at any cost.
    That is ‘not so’. Remember too… the whole world
    knows about Adani – & overseas followers agree
    with First Nation. All I’ve got to say is… pack up &
    “Go Home Adani.”

  5. Good on them, at least someone is doing what is right for the country no government should have the right to grant land to anyone if the true owners object after all the government does NOT own it we have seen state and federal government repeatedly sell off leases, buildings, land, retirement homes, hospitals, jails all things that are owned by the people sadly today the Australian people own very little, so much of our heritage has been sold off in the name of progress I get annoyed by it and I’m only going back a couple of hundred years I can only imagine how the true owners of this land feel having their history torn apart by a business hell bent on destroying the planet, there is something very wrong wit this picture.

  6. Maybe the traditional owners need to get a legitimate job instead of bludging off benefits like real people do, working and paying taxes so. these bludges exist!

  7. Most of the ‘bludgers’ are our overpaid cringing members
    of Parliament, Col. Real Pollies? Let’s not play pretend for
    ‘it’s all over now baby blue.’ When people are treated like
    crap – as has happened since the UK lobbed in & called
    Australia home – it’s all been written about & the records
    are shameful. I am familiar with what is by far more than
    a ‘subject matter’. You opinion & mind set won’t impress
    those of us who’ve truly worked for a living & know that
    ‘one size’ won’t fit all regardless of colour.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Retired local professor launches book on grief

A leading international thinker and researcher in the development of innovative sport coaching and physical education teaching has returned home to Byron Bay and is launching his first non-academic book, 'Grief and Growth', on April 4 at The Book Room in Byron. 

Resilient Lismore’s ‘Repair to Return’ funding

On the eve of the second anniversary of the second devastating flood in 2022, Resilient Lismore has welcomed the finalisation of its funding deed with the NSW Reconstruction Authority, which will enable the continuation of its ‘Repair to Return’ program.

Editorial – Joyous propaganda! 

The NSW Labor government marked its one year in office this week with a jubilant statement of achievements issued from Macquarie Street HQ.

Man charged over domestic violence and pursuit offences – Tweed Heads

A man has been charged following a pursuit near Tweed Heads on Monday.