Sydney
, Apr 4 (EFE).- More than 100 protesters Monday gathered outside the
Parliament in
Brisbane
, capital of the state of
Queensland
, against the Carmichael mining project, led by Indian firm
Adani, which will be the largest coal mine in
Australia
, according to the media.
The protesters shouted "Reef not coal" and demanded authorities protect the Great Barrier Reef from the impact of the mining.
The
Queensland
government had announced Sunday that it has ironed out the main regulatory barrier to approve concessions to the Carmichael mine in the Galilee basin and terminal mining plant at Abbot Point, near the Great Barrier Reef, a World Heritage Site that is currently suffering from the effects of coral bleaching.
Protesters insisted the fight against the project, valued at US$17 billion, is not over since there are two pending judicial processes against it, presented by environmentalists and traditional owners (indigenous groups), reported local news agency AAP.
Andrew Bartlett, former leader of Australian Democrats Party, said that the Adani mine, which will decide its development according to the decisions of the proceedings, will export 60 million tonnes of coal annually to Asian markets.
He told demonstrators the
Queensland
government's decision is "economic stupidity and environmental insanity" and questioned the motives behind releasing the largest carbon pump on the planet in an already overheated atmosphere, reported the AAP.
Ellen Roberts, from the nonprofit GetUp, dismissed the economic benefits of the project saying that, "We know that the job figures for the Adani mine are exaggerated, we know they keep saying 10,000 (or) 5000, but it's much, much less than that and it's been tested in court."
The Australian Environment Ministry last October approved construction of the mine, with a series of conditions, after a court had annulled last August the approval by the
Canberra
government to the project for not taking into account environmental impact. EFE
wat/sp/nb
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Source: Equities.com News
(April 3, 2016 - 6:31 PM EDT)
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