NEW ACLAND SUPPORT GROUP AUTHENTICITY RAISES QUESTIONS

COAL mining opponents have taken aim at the Friends of New Acland, claiming the online community group is run by the New Hope Group mining company.

The Oakey Coal Action Alliance claims the group is an example of astroturfing – where a company fabricates a social media presence to appear as though it is grassroots or community driven, and then uses the group to lobby for political changes.

A 2018 Australia Institute report found the group was part of a $1.2 million advertising campaign promoting the New Acland Mine.

The report found that the group’s social media presence was moderated by the New Hope Group’s media and communications manager.

OOCA president Aileen Harrison said people were free to support whatever cause they wanted, but when it was presented as something that was not for financial gain, people had the right to be outraged.

“New Hope is taking the Darlings Downs community for a ride with this Facebook group,” she said.

“Ever since it arrived on the Darling Downs, New Hope has sought to divide the community and wreck our precious farmland and water. Oakey is now thriving, and the mine is not operating.”

The Chronicle understands New Hope Group ceased direct control of the social media account several years ago.

Goombungee publican Tom Gaslevich is the current Friends of New Acland Mine’s spokesman and said the group was independent.

“It definitely is not a fake group,” he said.

“I am now a local business owner and former mine employee so I guess I do have a bias but I have grown up in the area and I know the support the mine has.”