Indigenous challenge to Adani Carmichael coal mine dismissed by Federal Court

Adrian Burragubba has slammed the Queensland government for approving mining leases.
Erstveröffentlicht: 
19.08.2016

The Federal Court has dismissed a challenge from a Queensland traditional owner to mining leases for Adani's Carmichael coal mine.

A member of the Wangan and Jagalingou people was trying to put a stop to the multi-billion-dollar Galilee basin project.

Senior traditional owner for the Wangan and Jagalingou traditional owners, Adrian Burragubba argued that a determination made in April 2015 by the National Native Title Tribunal, relating to the proposed granting of two mining leases, was made incorrectly.

He argued the approval of mining leases would extinguish native title over parts of the group's lands.

Mr Burragubba made the application for judicial review against the Queensland Government, Adani and the National Native Title Tribunal.

His position was not supported by two other people that, at the time, made up the Wangan and Jagalingou group.

Mr Burragubba argued that Adani misled the tribunal about the economic benefits the mine would create and as a consequence the tribunal made the wrong decision.

But Adani said it had worked closely with traditional owners and the majority supported the project.

In his judgement, Justice John Reeves concluded that none of Mr Burragubba's grounds of review had merit.

Justice Reeves said the tribunal did not fail to observe the rules of natural justice or constructively fail to exercise its jurisdiction.

Mr Burragubba said he would continue to fight the mine.

"It is clear, however, that my submissions to the court and our concern to protect our life, culture and traditions and the social, cultural and economic structures of our group were dismissed and overridden.

"We continue to be restricted in the full expression of our laws and customs, in service to the machinery of mining development and the destruction of our country and culture."

Adani said it would continue to work with the Wangan and Jagalingou traditional owners to help ensure the benefits of the mine, rail and port project were realised.

 

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Traditional Owners say fight continues  

Senior Traditional Owner and spokesperson for the Wangan and Jagalingou traditional owners family council, Adrian Burragubba, says he is not surprised by the court decision, while reiterating that they stand strong together and will continue to defend their human rights, and protect their traditional lands from Adani’s destructive Carmichael mine.

Wangan and Jagalingou council representatives, including Mr Burragubba, are currently challenging the leases that have been issued by the Queensland government for the Adani Carmichael coal mine in a Judicial Review in the Queensland Supreme Court. The matter will be heard in November and further legal actions are underway.

 

Previous reporting here on linksunten:

 

Adani's new Carmichael coal mine in Galilee Basin 'not economically viable'

 

Traditional owners shrug off Adani’s land use pact in Australia

 

Brisbane outcry over coal mine approval amid worst Barrier Reef bleaching

 

Adani, no still means no. The next few weeks are crucial

 

Mega coalmine along Great Barrier Reef coast 'not a foregone conclusion'

 

Aboriginal opposition to mega-mine caves in – ‘We want a job, a car, a house like any Australian'

 

Help to fight government move to extinguish Aboriginal right to Barrier Reef land

 

Aborigines take coalmine worries to United Nations bodies and corporations

 

Terrible news: Australian government re-approves one of the world's biggest coal mines

 

New plans to dredge the Great Barrier Reef for thousands of coal ships

 

We just took on the world

 

Aborigines to visit US and European banks to prevent funding of Australia’s biggest coalmine on their country