Another appeal against Carmichael project

An group representing the indigenous Wangan and Jagalingou (W&J) people have lodged an appeal against Adani’s Carmichael coal project in Queensland, Australia. The legal action is the latest in a long list of court battles that has held up development of the Galilee Basin project.

The application by the W&J Family Council in the Federal Court of Australia challenges the mining leases for the project, arguing that the leases were issues without their consent and after they had three times rejected an Indigenous Land Use Agreement with Adani.

“We have formerly rejected this disastrous project three times,” said W&J spokesperson and traditional owner, Adrian Burragubba. “In this light […] issuing the mining leases is a shameful episode in the trashing of Traditional Owners’ rights by the exercise of government power.”

In response, Adana Mining Australia said that the group challenging the mining leases was a “minority element as opposed to the wider group of 12 authorised applicants of the W&J people” and accused the group of bringing a “politically motivated” challenge.

“Within minutes of the government’s announcement that the mining leases would be granted, activist groups were announcing they would challenge the decision – and intent to appeal both before the leases were granted and before reasons for the leases being granted had been seen,” the Indian company said in a statement.

The company added that is was working “constructively and respectfully with the full group of W&J applicants” to finalise an Indigenous Land Use Agreement.

Read the article online at: https://www.globalminingreview.com/exploration-development/14042016/another-appeal-against-carmichael-project-2016-614/