Adani is fighting for the right not to employ Clermont locals
The Queensland Government tried to make sure Adani employed some local people at its Carmichael coal mine, as required under Queensland law. In response, Adani took the Queensland government to court to fight for its right to NOT employ any local people.
Adani and the Queensland government have become embroiled in a legal dispute about whether Adani has the right to exclude Clermont locals from work at the Carmichael mine.
Under Queensland law, companies are banned from having a 100% fly-in, fly out workforce if there is a “nearby regional community” within 125km.
In September, the assistant coordinator general, Kerry Smeltzer, wrote to Adani advising the company the state had decided to expand the “nearby regional community” area for the Carmichael mine to include the town of Clermont, which is 159km from the coal pits.
“Accordingly, this means the 100% fly-in, fly-out prohibition and anti-discrimination in recruitment provisions [which prohibit discrimination against locals applying for jobs] now apply to the project,” Smeltzer said.
Adani responded by taking legal action in the Queensland supreme court in December, seeking a judicial review to overturn the decision, which it claimed was “an improper exercise of power” that restricts its “freedom” to choose “who it may employ and from what locations”.
Ben Smee, Guardian Australia, Thu 21 Mar 2024 01.00 AEDT