Mr.Gautam Adani at the reception for PM Modi in Melbourne. Photo: SAT/NN (copyright SAT)
By Neeraj Nanda
Melbourne, 4 May : Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has in an off-the-cuff remark said he will not waste taxpayer money on the Adani-owned Carmichael coal mine in Queensland. The PM was answering to a question from Australian Youth Climate Coalition’s Nemo in Brisbane. The proposed mine covers 28,000 hectares and has been under flak from environmental groups. Mr. Adani is a prominent Indian businessman and is considered close to PM Modi and accompanied him during his Australia visit.
In a media statement while welcoming Mr. Malcolm Turnbull’s commitment Greenpeace Pacific reef campaigner Shani Tager said: “While this off-the-cuff comment is welcome, the prime minister still needs to announce a credible environmental policy to protect the reef from the dangers of coal for future generations.”
“The Carmichael mine would mean more dredging in the Great Barrier Reef, more ships through its waters and more carbon emissions at a time when the reef is suffering from its worst ever bleaching.
The prime minister joins 14 international and Australian banks that have ruled out funding the project. Queensland’s treasury department has described the project as ‘unbankable’ and no other investors are prepared to get behind a project that needs $16.5bn.”
– SAT News Service
