ACF's Carmichael claim fails
The Federal Court has dismissed a legal case against the Carmichael coal mine, while the QLD government has voted to back it even further.
The Australian Conservation Foundation had argued that former environment minister Greg Hunt did not consider the impact of burning coal from the mine in line with his obligations to protect the Great Barrier Reef.
Representatives for Mr Hunt and lawyers for Adani - the proposed mine’s operator – contested the allegations.
Adani welcomed the decision in a written statement.
“Over six years, there have been multiple approval processes, some two years of cumulative community consultation and submissions as part of those processes, and over ten appeals and judicial processes brought on by activists,” the statement read.
“There can be no question that there has been more than ample opportunity for consultation, input and appeal and for activists to have their say.
ACF chief executive Kelly O'Shanassy said the ACF would not stop its efforts to stop the mine.
“It is absolutely incredible that the Federal Government could approve a mega-polluting coal mine in this day and age of climate change without being able to determine what impact that coal mine will have on climate change or on the Great Barrier Reef,” Ms O'Shanassy said.
Meanwhile, the Queensland Parliament has voted overwhelmingly in favour of a motion to “support the development of Adani's Carmichael mine”.
The vote was 87 to 1, with Independent MP for Cairns Rob Pyne standing as the lone voice of dissent.
Pyne told reporters after the vote that “the ALP just gets worse and worse on this issue”.
“I called a division because I know for a fact there are some people in the ALP who don't support [the Carmichael mine]. I was hoping some of them might do the right thing by their children and future generations and at the very least abstain,” he said.
“Cairns is a Pacific Rim city and I'm worried that my electorate will be under water if they keep going ahead with these 20th century proposals.
“Many countries are transitioning away from fossil fuels. We have to transition away from fossil fuels as well.
“All they talk about in this place is jobs, but they're looking for jobs in all the wrong places.”