Queensland ministers will be targeted if state funds roads for Adani, warn activists
Activists say they will relaunch a disruption campaign targeting Queensland government ministers and MPs after reports the government has considered financing road upgrades required for access to Adani’s Carmichael coalmine.The ABC reports that documents, obtained under right-to-information laws by the consultancy Energy and Resource Insights, reveal ongoing discussions about upgrades to the local dirt roads.
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Labor has consistently pledged that no public money will go to the Carmichael project. The premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, vetoed an application by Adani for a federal government loan under the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (Naif) scheme late last year. Palaszczuk and her ministers were targeted by anti-coal protesters almost daily during last year’s election campaign. The government managed to walk a fine line between support for the project and its opposition to public subsidies. Polling of city electorates, where Labor picked up seats and won its majority, showed voters were opposed to any financial support for Adani.In the months since the election, with Adani apparently unable to secure finance to proceed with the megamine and progress stalling, opponents have been less visible. Galilee Blockade spokesman Ben Pennings told Guardian Australia the government could expect citizen activists to redouble their attempts to disrupt Labor politicians. “Labor spending $100m of our money on Adani infrastructure would break a key election promise and betray the trust of Queenslanders,” Pennings said. “This money could be spent on schools or hospitals rather than help a multibillionaire.”
“We will not let Labor fund Adani through the back door. We will disrupt their events and press conferences until they keep their election promise, take all royalty or infrastructure deals for Adani off the
table.” The Galilee Blockade group said it would also target any roadbuilding operations that would help Adani. The activists claim responsibility for a decision by Downer EDI to end a $2.6bn contract to build and operate the mine last year. Downer’s roadbuilding operations were among those targeted. “Any roadbuilder using our money to help the Adani mine will face the wrath of citizens who have been promised their money won’t be used to help Adani,” Pennings said. “We’re 100% confident we can save taxpayers this $100m planned for Adani.” The ABC reported the government was considering a state takeover of about 90km of dirt roads that would need to be upgraded to provide reliable year-round access to the Carmichael site.The government has said significant projects can have an impact on local road users, and that costs associated are recovered by the state on a commercial basis.The documents refer to discussions that mostly took place last year. Guardian Australia understands government, local councils and others are in an effective holding pattern on the Carmichael mine, given the uncertainties about the future of the project. Decisions are unlikely to be made given increasing skepticism that Adani will be able to make the mine stack up financially.
Last week, Indian news site the Wire reported Adani was considering filing for bankruptcy protection for its Mundra power plant, which was shut in February after heavy losses. When Adani bought the Carmichael site from Linc Energy in 2010, it wanted to build the mine in order to supply coal to Mundra. Adani told Guardian Australia it has not approached the relevant tribunal or applied for bankruptcy, but said it was working to resolve challenges faced at Mundra, and that “various options are being evaluated in consultation with procurer states and lenders”. No significant work has been conducted at the Carmichael site or along the proposed rail route this year, despite the onset of the dry season. Last month it was revealed that AECOM, the company designing the rail line, amp;#xa0; had “demobilised” from the project. Adani did not answer directly when asked whether the company had since engaged another contractor to complete the rail design. “We remain 100% committed to the Carmichael project,” an Adani spokeswoman said. “Work continues to prepare for mine infrastructure construction and operation.”