PROTEST REJECTS BLOW-IN CLAIM
THOUSANDS of people flooded Brisbane’s CBD yesterday to protest against Adani in a massive rally that’s been compared to the famous movement that helped axe Tasmania’s Franklin Dam.
Police blocked off several streets as activists marched from Queens Gardens to Adani headquarters opposite Eagle Street Pier.
Former Greens leader Bob Brown told cheering crowds he thought there were 4000 people in the march – comparing it to the anti-franklin Dam movement 36 years ago.
“Last year 150,000 of our fellow warm-hearted human beings, children, women and men died from global heating largely due to coal, oil and gas,” he said.
Two protesters dressed up in bobble-head costumes of Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten threw a piece of fake coal between them on the steps of the building as activists performed a dance routine.
The Bob Brown-led convoy, which left Hobart last week, will leave Brisbane today as it continues its journey north to the Galilee.
It’s been warned that when it reaches Clermont this weekend, the coalmining town will refuse to serve activists at shops and pubs. Mr Brown yesterday dismissed comments that activists in the convoy were “blow ins”.
“This year; floods in Townsville, homes washed away, people died, bushfires in Tasmania,” he said. “Are you going to pay for that Gautam Adani? Will you sign up to responsibility for that Scott Morrison? Will you get off the fence … Bill Shorten?
“This is the single biggest election gathering so far in this crucial 2019 election anywhere in Australia because we register that there is a climate emergency.”
The Carmichael coal mine dominated the campaign hustings yesterday, with Mr Shorten claiming there were “no plans” to send key Adani mine approvals back to the drawing board if Labor won power.
Meanwhile Mr Morrison slammed protesters, after activists had compared coal miners to Nazis.
The Prime Minister said he expected the Greens to denounce the comments.