HOGSBACK

Hogsback and curse of Adani

The two were once at constant loggerheads over the benefits of Adani's project.

Lou Caruana
Hogsback and curse of Adani

Two of the biggest participants in the Adani debate – Federal Minister for Resources Matt Canavan and Queensland Greens Senator Larissa Waters – have fallen victim of this dreaded curse.

The two were once at constant loggerheads over the benefits of Adani’s proposed $16.5 billion Carmichael coal mine and infrastructure project in Queensland’s Galilee Basin. However, within days of each other they had to bizarrely relinquish their positions over their apparent failure to ensure they were not dual citizens of other countries.    

The plain-speaking north Queenslander Canavan apparently had a dual citizenship conferred on him by his mother without his knowledge 10 years ago. 

While the matter is being referred to the High Court, Canavan has stepped aside from his portfolio.

Depending on the decision of the High Court he may still return as Resources Minister.   

Canavan has been outspoken on promoting the development of major resources projects such as the Carmichael mine. He argued that the project would create desperately needed employment, especially in the north of Queensland where the economy was suffering because of a long running drought.

One of the Adani project’s fiercest critics, Waters, was forced to resign last month when it was revealed she also was a citizen of Canada.

She claimed that allowing the Carmichael mine to go ahead would contribute to global warming which would endanger the coral in the Great Barrier Reef.     

Now, One Nation senator Malcolm Roberts is heading to the High Court to prove that he is not British but in fact Australian.  

Roberts slammed a bill proposed by the Greens to stop Adani building the Carmichael mine and then decided to add that black lung was "not a problem when it is managed properly”.

Such high drama and high emotion. The seemingly straightforward task of getting a major coal mining project off the ground has morphed into a fantastical tale of martyrs and villains, and, it would appear, witch doctors as well.  

Hogsback is not suggesting that one of the protagonists in this soap opera has devised a curse that has gone horribly wrong.

However, something seems to be rotten in Denmark, if not Canberra, these days when every twist and turn of this saga is played out like a Shakespearean tragedy.

Things would be much better if mines got approved on the basis of environmental impact statements and then the curtains came down to everyone’s applause.   

    

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the mining sector, brought to you by the Mining Monthly Intelligence team.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the mining sector, brought to you by the Mining Monthly Intelligence team.

editions

ESG Mining Company Index: Benchmarking the Future of Sustainable Mining

The ESG Mining Company Index report provides an in-depth evaluation of ESG performance of 61 of the world's largest mining companies. Using a robust framework, it assesses each company across 9 meticulously weighted indicators within 6 essential pillars.

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Exploration Report 2024 (feat. Opaxe data)

A comprehensive review of exploration trends and technologies, highlighting the best intercepts and discoveries and the latest initial resource estimates.

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Future Fleets Report 2024

The report paints a picture of the equipment landscape and includes detailed profiles of mines that are employing these fleets

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Digitalisation Report 2023

An in-depth review of operations that use digitalisation technology to drive improvements across all areas of mining production