Greg Hunt, do the right thing and ditch Carmichael

Sydney, 5 August, 2015 - Environment Minister Greg Hunt should seize a landmark opportunity to permanently ditch plans for the Carmichael mine in Queensland after the Federal Court overturned the mine's approval today, Greenpeace Australia Pacific said.

“With the court overturning Carmichael's consent, Mr. Hunt has a second chance to do his job properly and consign to history this massive mine, which would devastate the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef, and be a climate catastrophe,” said Nikola  Casule, Greenpeace Australia Pacific climate and energy campaigner.

Approved in July 2014, Carmichael would be Australia’s largest coal mine, and would heavily impact the Great Barrier Reef through associated dredging and port activity to ship the coal. At 28,000 hectares, it would also produce 121 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions yearly at maximum production driving climate change.

“This is another nail in the coffin for the risky Carmichael project and a warning for the big 4 Australian banks to walk away from this project. Not only has it been called ‘unbankable’ by the Queensland Treasury, but 11 international banks have already chosen not to invest in it because of the financial and environmental risks,” said Dr Casule.

“It’s time for the big 4 Australian banks  - the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, National Australia Bank, Westpac and ANZ - to publicly commit that they will not fund this or any other Galilee coal basin developments.”

The Queensland-based Mackay Conservation Group launched a federal legal challenge against the Carmichael mine in January. Information brought to light during the hearings showed inaccuracies around the mine's use of water, super inflated job promises and economic modelling, and significant environmental impacts not taken into account when the consent was granted. The Court decision today ruled in the Mackay Conservation Group's favour and overturned the mine's approval.   It comes after recent media reports in Australia that Adani has sent home key contractors who were working on the mine infrastructure, adding further doubt to the viability of the project.

“Greenpeace congratulates the Mackay Conservation Group on this win and their challenge, which was fought on behalf of all Australians. It’s clear that no new coal mines are needed in Australia. Mr. Hunt now has a chance to redeem himself and get rid of Carmichael once and for all,” said Dr Casule.