Why we demand an investigation into Adani’s environmental approvals

Our recent report has revealed that the process by which Indian corporate giant Adani was signed off as a ‘suitable operator’ for the proposed Carmichael coal mine was rushed and inadequate.

Environmental Justice Australia is now demanding that the Queensland Environment Department investigate the process.

We recently wrote to the Director General of the Queensland Environment Department, Jon Black, asking that he exercise his powers and responsibilities under the legislation to look at the issue of whether Adani is a suitable operator.

Our research shows that the Newman Government, in its rush to fast track Adani Mining’s application to operate the Carmichael mine, has overlooked Adani’s environmental track record and failed to require Adani to respond to crucial issues about their history of environmental damage.
Adani has a truly terrible track record. In India, they’ve shown disregard for Indian laws, causing extensive environmental harm, destroying mangroves and waterways, and causing air pollution.

Queensland officials haven’t scrutinised Adani thoroughly. They registered the company as a ‘suitable operator’ but there is no indication that its environmental record has been considered at all since 2010.

There are big questions around the process by which Adani got their ‘suitable operator’ status. We know they bought an environmental authority from another company in 2010. Then they turned that into a minor permit which allowed them to undertake limited exploration activities on the Carmichael mine site, including geological surveys, storing chemicals, and treating sewage.

Timeline: Adani’s path to a permit

Full report: A review of the Adani group’s environmental history in the context of the Carmichael coal mine approval

Pic: AMCS reef action, by Vanessa Dale