Indian coal company Adani accused of ‘flouting environmental laws’ in its plans to clear habitat of black-throated finch

This article is more than 6 years old

This article is more than 6 years old

The federal environment minister, Greg Hunt, must demand a coal company halt plans to conduct seismic surveys in the Galilee Basin, Greenpeace has said, so the government can make an environmental assessment of “substantial threats” to an endangered species of finch.



Indian coal company Adani Mining Pty Ltd is planning on conducting the surveys at the site of its proposed Carmichael coalmine in the Galilee Basin, Queensland, and Greenpeace has accused Adani of “flouting environmental laws” by not referring the project to the federal government for assessment.

The surveys are likely to involve mass clearance of vegetation and trees in almost 4,000 hectares of black-throated finch habitat, Greenpeace said, and will have a “significant impact” on the species. The finch is listed as endangered under federal and state law.

It said the mining company was taking advantage of a grey area within the law which appears to have allowed Adani to make its own decision on whether or not its activities require reporting.

“If you’re going to undertake an activity of any kind that might have impact on endangered native species, you’re required to notify the federal Environmental Department … so that they can decide whether or not a full environmental assessment is needed,” Louise Matthiesson, Queensland campaigner for Greenpeace Australia Pacific, told Guardian Australia.

“Adani haven’t done that. They said they don’t think they’d need to because the activity won’t have a significant impact on the finch,” she said.

“They’re relying on this grey area to justify skipping that whole step or ignoring the process.”



A letter from Adani, seen by Guardian Australia, says the mining company engaged a “respected independent environmental firm to ensure all necessary approvals are in place”, before beginning the seismic survey.

“The assessment has concluded that the proposed works do not require approval at the federal level,” it says.

Greenpeace approached Hunt and called on him to request the company refer its plans for assessment. The environmental group believes Adani could be in breach of environmental law should the project go ahead without federal assessment.

“There’s still a chance after it’s referred that the Environment Department might say it doesn’t look like the assessment is needed,” said Matthiesson, but added that the concern was Adani might begin the surveys before any decision was made.

“If there was a significant impact [once Adani did the surveys] we could take them to court and get them prosecuted for that … but by then the damage is done,” she said.

A spokesman for Hunt’s office said compliance officers from the department were looking into Greenpeace’s allegations.

“There is no evidence at this point of time that would indicate a contravention of national environment law has occurred. However inquiries are continuing,” he told Guardian Australia.

There was “no specific timeframe” for completion of the inquiries, he said.

In December Hunt granted approval to Clive Palmer’s China First mine in the Galilee Basin, despite opposition from conservationists. The $6.4bn project will wipe out half of the Bimblebox nature refuge – home to the black-throated finch and other species. The approval came with 49 conditions, including about how much land can be used, and mandatory financial contributions to conservation efforts.

The same month, changes to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act meant the government does not have to take expert advice into consideration before approving major developments such as mines and ports.

This week the Senate is expected to debate a bill which would grant Hunt retrospective legal immunity against any potential claims he ignored environmental advice before approving mining projects.

Adani did not return requests for comment.