Mine battle to power up Opponents plan national protest

eight regional mayors on the delegation had been able to convince Adani’s board of the North Queensland public’s support for the project.

“Our city has been hit very hard for job losses, particularly as part of Clive Palmer’s Queensland Nickel,” she said. “These ( Adani) jobs are important to regional Queensland and very important to Townsville.

“The delegation to India was to show that what many of the Indian people are seeing in the Australian press isn’t the sentiment of the people of North Queensland.

“We want their investment, we welcome the partnerships we can build.”

Charters Towers Mayor Liz Schmidt said she was A VISIT to India by opponents of Adani’s Carmichael Mine was the first step in a push to ramp up protests over the project, with a national roadshow starting off in Townsville next week.

North Queensland Conservation Council co- ordinator Maree Dibella said the organisation hoped to rally more support for their cause.

“It’s great to see people from around the country join our fight to stop the Adani’s mine from going ahead,” Ms Dibella said.

“I know there is a lot of local support here in Townsville for this campaign, but I also know we can’t win this on our own.

“We’re hosting the first Stop Adani public meeting ( on) Monday here in Townsville. People power is what can stop Adani, and this is our chance for our community to gather and hear from re- nowned speakers about what comes next.”

Queensland grazier Bruce Currie, who went to India with businessman Geoff Cousins last week to deliver a petition against the development to Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, said he was still committed to ending the project he fought in the Land Court.

“I’ve never been to India and I wanted to go on a factfinding mission,” Mr Currie ( pictured) said.

“I can say I’ve been now anda seen the impact on people’sp lives. I can understand how these people could benefit from electricity but the cost of distributing a centralised power supply is never going to help the poor people.

“It’s going to be a modular system with panels on the roof, which is the only way they could afford it.”

Mr Currie said the visit was another piece in a long battle opposing the project.

“It’s a bit like building a house,” he said.

“You have a series of bricks and you don’t know which one is going to completed but it all adds to the impacts and all adds to informing and empowering people.

“While in India I spoke to academics, lecturers, farmers, fishermen and a representative from Adani who accepted the letter the delegation has given them.

“If we lost this battle I’ve got to bear a degree of responsibility as do all Australians.”