Why Are Australians Worried About a $2billion Project

The Adani Mine tipped to create thousands of jobs for Australians has got everyone worried about the environmental impact. The Australian Youth Climate Coalition (AYCC) is calling for a review of the coal mine’s approval. Gemma Borgo-Caratti, the AYCC National Director said hopes are on Labor to commit to reviewing Adani’s environmental approvals if the party comes to power in the next election which is just a couple of weeks away. Moreover, legal experts have also brought blatant political interference over the groundwater approval process to the fore.

Gemma said issues such as water impacts that had not been considered as part of the approval process and this would require further investigations. “Government infighting over the Adani mine, including threats from Senator James McGrath for Melissa Price to be removed from her ministry if she rejected Adani’s groundwater plan, demonstrates a high level of political bias in the approval process.”

Earlier this week, Senator McGrath threatened Environment Minister Melissa Price that he would publicly call for her resignation if she failed to treat the mine approval fairly. Then on Tuesday, Price announced that she had signed off on Adani’s groundwater plan. This is the final federal approval the mine needs before beginning construction. Bill Shorten, the Labor leader said the party would look at the project. He said Labor has always said the project needs to stack up commercially and scientifically. “We will consider the report that has been released, and if there are decisions to be made, we’ll make them on the best available information and in accordance with the law. We don’t rip up contracts and we don’t create sovereign risk.”