Engineering firm GHD is facing a week of intense community pressure over their work with Adani on the controversial Carmichael Mine project, as news breaks of deep internal conflict within the company over their partnership with Adani.

Several GHD staff members have anonymously spoken out today, exposing the long history of work GHD has conducted for Adani. The revelations of staff turmoil come as hundreds of people across Australia take part in dozens of actions at GHD offices calling on the engineering company to stop helping Adani build the Carmichael coal project.

The national week of action has so far seen hundreds join actions in Sydney, the Sunshine Coast, Adelaide, Brisbane, Newcastle. This will continue throughout the week in 17 locations including Cairns, Wadonga, Wagga Wagga, Melbourne, and Canberra.  

Engineering firm GHD is Adani’s longest-serving business partner in Australia, having worked on the Carmichael mine project since 2010. GHD has provided a range of services and completed a large number of contracts with Adani, including the initial Environmental Impact Statement for the mine and rail project, design of the box cut that will start the digging of the mine itself, dewatering bores that will extract large volumes of groundwater, and design works for Adani’s rail line.  

A significant public campaign has been targeting GHD with over 66,000 Australians so far contacting the company, calling on them to stop helping Adani build the mine. 

#StopAdani Cairns spokesperson Zelda Grimshaw said, “Australians want action to address dangerous climate change. #StopAdani groups around the country are coming out in force this week to show GHD we are serious about preventing Adani’s coal mine from fuelling worse bushfires, droughts, extreme heatwaves, and storms.

“It’s no wonder GHD staff members are outraged about the company’s involvement and motivated to speak out. Engineering staff at companies like GHD don’t want to work on climate wrecking projects like the Adani mine. They want to help solve the climate crisis not make it worse.” 

“GHD staff concern reflects the two thirds of Australians opposed to Adani’s climate wrecking mine that will turbo-charge global warming and coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef, destroy endangered wildlife habitat, drain precious rivers and aquifers and trample the rights of First Nations people.  

“By partnering with Adani GHD are putting themselves and their staff on the wrong side of history. Staff are GHD’s most precious resource, but they are dragging them and their reputation through the mud by working with Adani. GHD need to publicly rule out any further partnership.” 

“GHD should show leadership and use their expertise to help address the climate crisis, not help build the most controversial coal mine in the world that will open up one of the largest undeveloped coal reserves in the world.”

Campaigner at Market Forces Pablo Brait said, “So far 61 companies have publicly ruled out working with Adani because they understand it is simply not worth it. Working with Adani is toxic not only for the climate and Queensland’s water but for a company’s reputation and staff morale. GHD needs to make the right call and join the growing list of companies ruling out work on Adani’s climate wrecking plans to build the Carmichael coal mine and rail line.” 

 Photos of GHD actions here.