Where to on Adani?
Adani just got the last environmental approval they need to begin construction. What does that mean and where to from here?
The QLD Government - after intense pressure from Adani and the Murdoch press - has approved Adani’s inadequate groundwater plan, which scientists say gives the Doongmabulla Springs an 8/10 chance of extinction, to add to the real-time extinction of the endangered Black-Throated Finch we will likely witness as a result of Adani’s inadequate plan to manage its habitat.
What does this mean for Adani and for the millions of Australians who care deeply about stopping this mine?
The fight is far from over, but we need everyone who cares about solving the climate crisis to get involved. Please sign the pledge to do what it takes to stop Adani and share it with anyone who might want to sign.
Where is Adani at?
Adani are framing this approval as their green light to start work, off the back of their relentless bullying campaign over the last year to pressure the Queensland Government to sign off. But there are a number of obstacles before major work can begin including:
-
The Wangan and Jagalingou Family Council have said no to Adani five times, and their latest court appeal to Adani’s sham Indigenous Land Use Agreement was heard last month by the full bench of the Federal Court. A decision is expected in late August-early September. This press release from W&J provides a general update on their ongoing struggle. You can donate to support their work here.
-
Adani needs two more federal approvals, and to act on two state requirements, before it can begin mining coal, including Federal approval of the Great Artesian Basin Springs Research Plan and the Rewan Formation Connectivity Research Plan.
-
The Australian Conservation Foundation’s court challenge to the Federal Government’s decision to not refer the North Galilee Water Scheme project was successful, which sends that approval process back to the Morrison Government. Lawyers are looking into other possible legal actions including over both the Federal and Queensland Governments’ rushed approvals of Adani's groundwater plan.
- Adani has not yet clarified who will build the mine, or where the finances are coming from. But we expect that despite many analysts speculating about whether or not the project will stack up financially, in short, any project can become financially viable with enough subsidies from the governments. With the election of governments in Australia and India that support Adani’s coal expansion, we need to be on high alert that Adani will be seeking taxpayer handouts. This piece is helpful in understanding some of the dynamics.
While the federal election is being framed by the coal lobby and the Murdoch press as a “mandate for coal and to dig Adani” we know that is far from true. Two thirds of Australians oppose the mine, and plenty of people voted for more climate action all around the country. In places where we worked, there were swings to candidates who stood strongly on platforms to stop Adani and move Australia beyond coal, and away from those who didn’t.
So what do we do now?
The #StopAdani movement’s goal has always been to protect people from the worsening impacts of the climate crisis by stopping the expansion of coal -- the number one driver of global warming. Our movement has been working to keep Galilee Basin coal in the ground for seven years. The #StopAdani alliance launched in early 2017 after Matt Canavan promised $1 billion of taxpayer funds for the project, and Annastacia Palaszczuk declared the project ‘critical infrastructure’. We weren’t sure how would win then, but people power stopped that loan and saw Australia’s big 4 banks and over 50 financial institutions, insurers and contractors rule out or stop supporting the project.
It’s going to be tough, but people power has stopped Adani for seven years, and that’s what’s going to stop it now.
We can do this - and we need to do it together. Here’s what you can do right now:
- Sign the pledge to show Adani you’re willing to do what it takes to stop their planet-cooking coal mine.
- Join or start a local group.
- Come along to the StopAdani assemblies and make some serious plans to stop Adani with people from across the movement.
Our movement is going to use this moment to build a stronger, more powerful movement for climate justice. Because when it comes to solving the climate crisis -- failure is not an option.