Residents step up the pressure on Labor over Adani

November 29, 2018
Issue 
Outside Tanya Plibersek's office in Surry Hills. Photo: Jason Wu

Inaction on global warming is heating not only the planet, but also the mood of residents who visited Labor MPs offices in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.

Sydney residents concerned about climate change and the Adani coal mine in Queensland visited ALP deputy leader Tanya Plibersek on November 20 where, after queuing patiently, finally spoke to her office staff to ask them to pass a message on that the Labor Party must pledge to halt the proposed Adani coal mine.

If it goes ahead, Adani's Carmichael mine in the Galilee Basin will be the largest in Australia. Coal from the mine will add huge amounts of carbon pollution and toxins into the air. The mine would also have free access to billions of litres of groundwater for 60 years.

It would place precious aquifers of the Great Artesian Basin at risk.

Surveys have consistently shown that the vast majority of Australians do not want this mine to proceed.

Local resident Mark said: “I don’t believe the mine should go ahead because it not only poses a significant and imminent danger to our climate, but also to our precious natural environment, including the Great Barrier Reef and the local communities that depend on it.”

Another resident, Karin, said: “Even though the federal Labor Party has the power to review and stop this disastrous project if it was elected into government, it would continue to sit on the fence.

“Bill Shorten even said recently that Adani will not impact Australia’s greenhouse emissions, which shows how out of touch Labor is.”

Nationally, more than 100 #StopAdani groups have formed to raise community awareness and demand politicians take action.

Concerned residents also visited federal Labor leader Bill Shorten, Queensland Labor Premier Anna Palaszczuk and federal Labor deputy leader Anthony Albanese.

Sydney residents are also doorknocking and holding market stalls to raise awareness. They delivered more than 100 signed letters calling on Plibersek and Labor to show real leadership.

“We will continue to organise and ask the Labor Party to prioritise tackling climate change over billionaire coal barons who want to get rich destroying our planet,” said Carrie,#StopAdani Redfern organiser.

“The Labor Party should commit to stopping Adani’s unwanted and dangerous project and lead Australia towards a renewable energy-powered future.”

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