Australia: Traditional owners approach federal court over Adani coalmine in Queensland

Traditional owners opposing the Adani coal plant in Queensland have filed an application for an injunction with the Federal Court of Australia to prevent the native title tribunal from signing off on an Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA) before the outcome of a court challenge.

According to a report filed by The Guardian, 120 members of the Wangan and Jagalingou (W&J) traditional owners council voted against the ILUA for the fourth time since it was proposed in 2012.

The W&J’s 12-person native title representative group is split down the middle on the mine deal, which was revived last year after traditional owners rejected Adani twice before.

The application for the injunction had been filed against both Adani and the Queensland government in an attempt to prevent the agreement being pushed through.

The Economics Consulting Services analysis, which was presented at the W&J meeting and shared on their website, said the deal would produce a total value of $154m over 30 years provided the promise of jobs for Indigenous people, which accounts for 75% of the value, is delivered.

The ILUA is critical to Adani gaining finance as many major banks subscribe to the equator principles, under which resource projects are not backed without …read more