The federal government announced an amendment last month to environmental laws to prevent legal challenges to projects such as Indian giant Adani’s controversial $16.5 billion Carmichael mine in Queensland, dubbed “lawfare” by the Coalition.
The bill passed the House of Representatives on government numbers, but faces a greater hurdle in the Senate.
The legislative amendment followed the Federal Court overturning the July 2014 federal environmental approval of Carmichael on what Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt called a “technical matter”
The court found Hunt had not properly considered advice about two threatened species – the yakka skink and the ornamental snake – when he approved the project last year.
QRC issued an online petition asking people to support tightening the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act to stop challenges to projects by groups that were not considered directly affected.
QRC CEO Michael Roche met with Hunt and Resources Minister Ian Macfarlane in Canberra to directly plead for action.
“The petition was released in response to the activists continually trying to use every trick in the book they can to disrupt and delay resource projects,” Roche said.
“We know this is one of their key tactics as listed in the activists’ strategy rulebook, Stopping the Australian Coal Export Boom.
“I’m presenting the results to date of the petition to Mr Hunt and Mr Macfarlane so they can see how desperately Queenslanders, and in fact many from across Australia who have signed this, want jobs and the flow-on effects to the regions as a result.
“We know they have a well-funded campaign, backed by groups such as the US Rockefeller Family and Australian entrepreneur Graeme Wood.
“Now is the chance for everyday Australians to join in the chorus to say ‘enough is enough’.”
Among the responses was one from an anonymous citizen who claimed activists should “have to demonstrate valid and researched arguments before something can be held up – not 'hype and social media scare campaigns' delaying the development of new business and opportunity for many”
Another, Rick Spence of Brisbane, said: “The ease at which one of the most important coal developments in Queensland's history can be back-pedalled at the pure expense of the taxpayer is mind blowing”
