Statement of Adani group on letter from environmentalist Geoffrey Cousins and supporters

Mumbai:

Media Statement by Spokesperson of Adani Group

We have received a letter today from Mr. Geoffrey Cousins of ACF, whose legal challenge has been dismissed by the Australian courts. We categorically reject such motivated letters of representation by a very small group of 76 misled people. The proposed mine in Australia has been cleared after rigorous assessments and strict conditions. The proposed mine is supported fully by people of regional Queensland and their elected representatives who in turn represent millions of Australians. The proposed mine will help in providing energy security to millions of Indians who are without electricity while creating thousands of jobs and economic benefits for the state of Queensland in particular and Australia in general. It is a project which will create enormous social and economic value for both the countries of Australia and India.

Background

A delegation of Australian citizens visiting India to deliver a message to Guatam Adani that the Australian community does not want the controversial Carmichael coal mine.

The aim of the delegation is to demonstrate to Adani and the Indian community that the Australian people are strongly opposed to the Carmichael coal project. Australians would welcome Adani’s investment in solar in Australia but remain vehemently opposed to the Adani coal project which will damage groundwater, the climate and the much loved Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.

Earlier Delegation including Queensland farmer, tourism operator and reef campaigner deliver prominent Australians ‘No Adani Coal Mine’ letter to Adani which reportedly has signatures of ex-Australian Cricket captain brothers Ian and Greg Chappell and many business, cultural, academic and community leaders.

At the same time as the Queensland Premier and six regional mayors visit India to promote the megamine, a delegation of Australian citizens had left for India to deliver the letter from 90 eminent Australians to billionaire Gautam Adani to say Australians want clean energy, not a new coal mine.

Eminent Australians who have signed the open letter include senior business leaders, sporting legends, Australians of the Year, authors, musicians, scientists, economists, artists and community leaders. Names include Ian and Greg Chappell, Missy Higgins, Tim Winton, Peter Garrett AM and businessmen Mark Burrows, John Mullen and Mark Joiner.

The delegation after delivering the letter to Mr Adani will tour India to meet politicians, business representatives and civil society leaders. It comprises: Geoff Cousins AM, business and community leader, reef tourism operator Dr Lindsay Simpson, Queensland farmer Bruce Currie and Imogen Zethoven AO, conservationist and Reef campaigner for the Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS).

Businessman Geoff Cousins has said , “The Queensland Premier and Mayors are on a dangerous junket to promote a damaging project. We are in India to tell Adani that Australians do not want this coal mine and will continue to fight it tooth and nail.

“Coal is a dirty, dying industry and polls show the majority of Australians are appalled that Adani is getting a $1 billion handout of public money to finance a project banks won’t touch. We would welcome Adani’s investment in solar instead,’ he said.

Whitsunday tourism reef operator Dr Lindsay Simpson says, “My business is already impacted by global warming, killing the coral that makes the Great Barrier Reef one of the seven wonders of the natural world. Queensland’s tourism industry can’t afford to stand by silently and allow projects like Adani’s Carmichael mine put our livelihoods and future at risk.

Queensland grazier Bruce Currie, whose groundwater is a risk if Adani’s rail infrastructure enables other Galilee Basin coal mines to go ahead says, “Agriculture is key to the nation’s economy and my farming business is 100 percent dependent on groundwater. Palaszczuk and Turnbull are blind to the importance of our groundwater resources. It is a disgrace that Adani will get free access to unlimited water, with the associated risks to the Great Artesian Basin”.

Adani is attempting to develop the Carmichael coal project in the untapped Galilee Basin in Central Queensland, Australia. The project involves a 60 million tonne per annum coal mine, a 388km long rail line and the construction of a new coal export terminal at the Abbot Point coal port.

The project has been dogged by controversy from the outset amidst concerns by traditional Aboriginal landowners and environmentalists over the groundwater impacts of the project, and the climate change impacts of burning coal from the mine. In addition the reports of impacts of the project on the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area have made it a highly controversial project, with over two million people actively expressing opposition to it and thirteen global banks ruling out providing funding.

DeshGujarat