Coal trains blocked by activist

SUSPENDED from a tripod, a 23- year- old anti- Adani activist blocked coal trains on Aurizon’s railway from reaching the Abbot Point port for more than three hours.

Clancey Maher, from Front Line Action on Coal, is calling on Aurizon and Pacific National to rule out any co- operation with Adani and the opening up of the Galilee Basin.

In a press release, the group says it has been active in the area for more than a year, “opposing the construction of Adani’s Carmichael mega mine in the Galilee Basin”.

“Adani has recently an- nounced that it is seeking to use Aurizon rail infrastructure, halving the rail distance needed to join the Carmichael mine with the Adani- owned export coal terminal, Abbot Point,” the group said.

“This has sparked outcry from various groups including Galilee Blockade, who have threatened that if Aurizon remain complicit in opening the Galilee basin to mining, they may be painted with the same brush as Adani and targeted by environmental groups.”

It’s not the first time Frontline Action on Coal has halted coal production around Abbot Point. Protesters have chained themselves to the railway line, hung banners from railway overpasses and perched on top of poles to stop production.

Last year, 10 protesters who blocked access to Adani’s Abbot Point coal port in central Queensland were arrested.

Ms Maher said the group would continue to target Aurizon as well as Pacific National while Adani’s Carmichael mega mine was on the table.

Her actions were blasted by Dawson MP George Christensen, calling her “a job- destroying activist”.

“The fringe element, the green job- destroying activists, are at it again today near the Abbot Point coal terminal holding up business and putting lives at risk,” Mr Christensen said.