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Thousands of people turned out to packed out and sold out #StopAdani roadshow meetings in Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne between March 28-31. The enthusiastic response is a tangible demonstration that the Adani Carmichael coalmine project can be defeated. Other actions since then demonstrate the ongoing dynamism of this people-power movement. These include a vibrant picket outside a speech by Adani's Australian chief at the Brisbane Hilton on March 31 and an occupation of Queensland Deputy Premier Jackie Trad's office on April 4. More actions are planned.

At the same time, the company is adamant that the mine will proceed. The Queensland government’s grant of a free water permit to the company demonstrates that further action is needed if the mine is to be stopped.

Indian anti-coal campaigner Vaishali Patil told the #Stop Adani roadshow meetings that coal wreaks huge environmental damage while devastating the lives of poor people in India. She also said that the Adani company is one of the worst that she has had dealings with.

“My problem is I can't get to sleep at night,” she said, likening this project to a poisonous snake under your pillow. She said corporate assurances are not worth anything and no genuine compensation can be made once environmental damage had been done.

“We are fighting day and night. Not only Adani, not just this mine, not just coal: this is a fight to survive!”

“We are unstopable,” she said because “another world is possible”.

Larissa Balwin from SEED (Indigenous youth for climate action) also spoke at the roadshow. She said “everybody has a stake in this fight” which is literally a “fight for life”.

She called on everyone present to “stand behind Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islanders who are leading this struggle”. Climate change is already affecting Aboriginal people she said and pointed out that “when Aboriginal people put out a call [for support] you need to be there to answer that call”.

She pointed out that people power is strong: “The only thing standing in their way is everybody in this room and everyone you can bring to this fight.”

Danny Kennedy from the Californian Clean Energy Fund also told the meeting that coal was outdated technology and that costs of renewables are coming down. He implored the crowd not to let the government get away with making a $1 billion loan with public money to fund what risks becoming a stranded asset as the world moves towards renewables.

The meetings called for building a people's movement, “changing politics” and stopping the money. The latter was the major focus with big divestment actions planned for the week of May 5–13. The immediate aim put forward by 350 Australia is to pressure the Westpac bank to rule out funding Adani.

[Visit http://www.stopadani.com/ for more information about this campaign.]

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Loaning $900m for Adani's central Queensland coal railway too risky, environmental lawyers say

Environmental lawyers have warned directors of the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF) to not fund Adani's proposed coal railway in central Queensland because it is in breach of their duties.

Adani boast puts $1b coal project loan in doubt, as new footage shows Abbot Point spill damage  

The Turnbull government's ability to provide a $1 billion discount loan to Indian conglomerate Adani for its proposed coal mine has been called into question. 

Bill Shorten isolated over Adani coalmine opposition

UNIONS, regional mayors and the Palaszczuk Labor Queensland government have united against Opposition Leader Bill Shorten over the Adani mine. The Australian reports Mr Shorten’s political allies are calling for approval to be granted for Adani’s $16.5 billion Carmichael mine project in central Queensland, and for native-title changes that will enable the mega-mine. The calls come after Mr Shorten yesterday strengthened his resolve against the Indian giant securing a $900 million Turnbull government concessional loan to build a rail line that would open up the Galilee coal province.

Adani could go ahead without loan: Labor

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull had a private meeting with company founder and chairman Gautam Adani and other Adani executives during his visit to India this week. He also asked that native title issues be resolved, leading to the PM replying that it "needs to be fixed and will be fixed". Among the issues discussed were the stalled free-trade talks, which Mr Turnbull said would now be brought back to prime ministerial level for a report to establish what hopes there were for a future agreement.

Adani's loan bid a clever strategy

HISTORY shows us that Adani doesn't actually need the $1 billion on offer from the Federal Government to help build the rail line.

Labor resists pressure for $900 million Adani coal mine loan 

Federal Labor is standing firm in opposition to a $900 million government loan for Adani's Carmichael coal mine project in central Queensland, rejecting claims the money is necessary for the mine to go ahead. Labor has rejected government claims the Adani Carmichael coal mine project in central Queensland deserves a $900 million concessional loan funded by taxpayers, saying the project should stand or fall "on its own two feet".

Lawyer debunks claims PM amending Native Title to help Adani build coal mine

A native title law specialist says claims that proposed amendments to the Native Title Act are designed to clear the path for a planned controversial coal mine are incorrect.

Coalition claims $900m Adani grant essential to address mine affordability crisis

The Coalition is fighting a difficult public relations war for their proposed $900 million grant to coal giant Adani to build their Queensland mine.

Labor 'not convinced' for Adani mine railway loan
11 April 2017: 'Labor Opposition Leader Bill Shorten is not convinced taxpayers should provide a loan for a rail line to Adani's Carmichael coal mine in Queensland as Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull met executives from the company in India.'


Labor not keen on Adani railway loan
11 April 2017: 'Labor Opposition Leader Bill Shorten is not convinced taxpayers should provide a loan for a rail line to Adani's Carmichael coal mine.' "The company's Carmichael coal mine project in Queensland was approved in December but has faced serious opposition from environmental and Indigenous groups."


Prime Minister Turnbull meets with Adani chairman, reiterates support for mine 

11 April 2017: "A spokesman for the Wangan Jagalingou Traditional Owners Council, which claims the project impinges on their rights, questioned Mr Turnbull’s assurance of a fix to Native Title uncertainty. The council said no deal had been struck with Labor to pre-empt a decision on Native Title. The spokesman said the Prime Minister’s commitment assumed changes to the Native Title Act would resolve the matter when there were existing matters before the courts."

 Abbot Point Coal Spill A Sign Of What's To Come, Environmentalists Say
'Barnaby Joyce dismissed the wetlands as a 'duck shooting pond', but environmentalists disagree.'
11 April 2017: "As the federal government makes a renewed push to clear the way for expanding Adani's controversial Carmichael coal mine, satellite images have emerged showing important wetlands blackened by coal dust from the company's Abbot Point coal terminal. We have no confidence that Adani will be able to manage the environmental impacts of the port expansion or any other aspect of its massive coal mining operation." - Mackay Conservation Group coordinator, Peter McCallum.


Concerns over coal-laden water spill from Adani’s Abbot Point coal terminal near the Great Barrier Reef
11 April 2017: 'PHOTOS have emerged showing coal-laden water spilling into wetlands from Adani’s Abbot Point terminal near the Great Barrier Reef.' "Mackay Conservation Group released images of the spill on its Facebook page and says they show the wetland, which were in good condition in 2016, had been turned black by coal escaping from the port. These images show the lack of capacity Adani has to operate in a sensitive environment,” said Mackay Conservation Group co-ordinator, Peter McCallum.

"Adani wants to build a new coal terminal at the port that will involve extensive dredging in Great Barrier Reef waters, then pile the waste rock and mud alongside these wetlands. That will put the wetlands and the reef under even greater threat.”