Adani feels an Aussie pinch

Published by MAC on 2019-02-16
Source: Australian Associated Press

Carmichael - cor blimey, mate!

Adani slams 'biased' review of bird plan

By Tracey Ferrier

Australian Associated Press

15 February 2019

An endangered bird could force the delay of Adani's Queensland coal mine
after its plans to protect the black-throated finch were found to be
inadequate.

The Indian miner has reacted with anger after a draft of the review into
their management plan - ordered by the Queensland state government - was
published by News Corp Australia on Friday.

The draft reportedly says the mine should not proceed until Adani rewrites
its plan to manage the finch, which lives on the Carmichael mine site.

It also recommends a trigger that would halt mining at the site should
Adani fail to prove finch numbers have remained steady in the operation's
first five years.

Adani claimed the review is biased, "reads like an anti-coal, anti-mining,
anti-Adani lobbying brochure" and "references the work of anti-Adani
campaigners". It said the Queensland government should not accept its
recommendations.

In a statement on Friday, Adani said it would not abandon Queenslanders
who wanted jobs at its mine.

"We are not going anywhere," it said.

Adani launched an advertising blitz earlier this week, accusing the state
government of shifting the goal posts for the project.

The company claimed the government ordered the review at the last minute,
after 18 months of work, consultations with the state's Department of
Environment and seven sets of revisions.

Environment Minister Leeanne Enoch said the government would not be
"bullied into cutting corners," while Deputy Premier Jackie Trad said the
department was simply doing its job as an independent regulator.

"This is about having a level of science and rigour around the final
decision-making," Ms Trad said on Friday.

Ms Trad said Adani would have the opportunity to raise concerns or
suggestions with the department before the report was finalised.

University of Melbourne ecologist Brendan Wintle chairs the panel that
reviewed the plan and said claims of bias were "a political tactic".

Professor Wintle said the review drew on scientific evidence from widely
recognised experts, and panel members were experts in biology,
conservation and sustainability.

During a tour of flood-hit Queensland on Friday, Prime Minister Scott
Morrison was asked if he was worried the mine project could be called off.

"I am concerned about jobs and people playing games with jobs," he replied.

The final report is expected to be handed to the state government on
Friday, unless Adani asks for more time to provide feedback.

Adani has not responded to AAP's requests to see the report draft.