Aaron Bunch Journalist with Australian Associated Press | Collection of published work | + 61 484 008 119 | abunch@aap.com.au
Concerns over Adani coal mine meeting
Reports a delegation of Queensland MPs met with Prime Minister Scott Morrison to discuss the Adani coal mine has anti-Adani campaigners worried.
April 4, 2019
Anti-Adani campaigners are worried the Morrison government may be pressured to push through a federal approval for the Adani coal mine on the eve of the election.
Their fears were sparked by an Australian newspaper report that a delegation of Queensland MPs met with Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Thursday to express their concerns that federal approval for the Adani coal mine has not been signed off despite being rubber-stamped by the Environment Department.
Australian Conservation Foundation campaigner Christian Slattery says the group fears a Groundwater Dependent Ecosystem Management Plan, which is the final federal-level management plan that must be approved before major construction work can commence on the mine site, could be ticked off.
“It is outrageous that the Coalition is considering pushing through critical groundwater approvals for Adani’s mine on the eve of an election,” Mr Slattery said in a statement.
Environmental groups have previously slammed the plan, which they said was not properly assessed and puts water resources at risk.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Environment Minister Melissa Price, Resources Minister Matt Canavan and Nationals MP George Christensen’s offices have been contacted for comment.