Protest taking it too far

ANTI- ADANI activists have been criticised for plans to protest outside a fundraising event for military veterans’ families in Townsville.

Galilee Blockade and Stop Adani groups from Townsville, Magnetic Island and James Cook University have organised a protest outside a business breakfast for the Townsville Legacy branch on March 23.

The breakfast is supported by AECOM, an engineering company undertaking surveying and design work for the Adani Carmichael coal railway line.

AECOM vice chair Mark Donaldson will be the guest speaker of the Townsville event.

North Queensland- based Senator Ian Macdonald said the protest was a “new low” and showed the activists had “no moral conscience”.

“Legacy is an organisation which cares for the families of deceased and incapacitated veterans within our local community. This attack on such a worthwhile organisation is an attack on each and every person living in the Garrison City,” Senator Macdonald said.

Legacy is a volunteer organisation that assists about 65,000 widowers and 1800 children and dependants with a disability in Australia. Senator Macdonald said the protesters had believed their voice was “more important” than the majority of locals for “far too long”.

“To now target a Legacy fundraising breakfast which is being held later this month is beyond comprehension and proves, yet again, that these people will stop at nothing to bully their way through,” he said.

A spokesman for Stop Adani Magnetic Island said they had “no beef” with Legacy and supported their work.

“It is just unfortunate that they chose this particular sponsor,” the spokesman said.

“AECOM is aware that, because of their support of Adani’s Carmichael coalmine, they are open to protest across the state.”

He said AECOM should prepare for action against them when they put their name to an event.

“We have no intention of disrupting Legacy’s event, but will protest peacefully outside and, if the opportunity arises, speak with, not shout at, attendees,” they said.

“The message to AECOM is clear. If you wish to show leadership, which is the theme of the address to Legacy, you should not support a project that the majority of Australian and Queenslanders vehemently oppose on account of the damage it will do.”