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Anti-coal activists told to end campaign against Traditional Owners for the Carmichael mine

29 August 2023

Bravus Mining and Resources has called on radical left-wing activist group Friends of the Earth to end its shameful campaign to silence the voices of First Nations people who support responsible mining. Friends of the Earth is a global activist network built on socialist principles with stated aims that include dismantling capitalism and destroying the patriarchy. The organisation is a registered charity in Australia. A Bravus Mining and Resources spokesperson said Friends of the Earth had spent two years organising and marketing an unlawful protest camp on the Carmichael Mining Lease near Clermont in central Queensland against the wishes of the majority of Traditional Owners of the area, the Wangan and Jagalingou people, who voted 294 to 1 in favour of the mine. “The unlawful protest camp on our mining lease is a dishonest tactic used by global anti-fossil activist groups like Friends of the Earth and Frontline Action on Coal in their mission to shut down Australia’s export coal industry,” the spokesperson said. “We call on Friends of the Earth to listen to and respect the voices of the majority of Wangan and Jagalingou Traditional Owners and to stop actively promoting and organising activities that undermine First Nations peoples’ right to self-determination. “Friends of the Earth are running a social media campaign to publicise the two-year anniversary of the protest camp and are acting as the media contact for the camp. “The activists’ claim that the camp is for cultural purposes is false, it is simply a front for anti-coal activism, as is evidenced by the fact that key members of Frontline Action on Coal, the group best known for dangerously locking themselves onto train tracks and coal wagons and blocking roads, are driving a truck up from Mullumbimby in NSW to attend the anniversary. “A collection of photographs shared by the activists to promote the camp anniversary features anti-fossil fuel activists like Ben Pennings, an organiser of the failed StopAdani movement who is facing civil legal action bought by our company that seeks to limit the campaign of alleged harassment and intimidation he orchestrated against our business. “These anti-fossil fuel activist groups use Mr Coedie McAvoy, a frequent visitor to the protest camp, to marginalise and silence the voices of the majority of Wangan and Jagalingou Traditional Owners, who overwhelmingly support the mine and are working with us under legally binding agreements that protect their rights and respect their cultural heritage. “Mr McAvoy has made disturbing threats of violence to Wangan and Jagalingou Traditional Owners who sit on the mine’s Cultural Heritage Committee, and he is before the courts for the alleged assault of two mine workers, one of whom is Indigenous, on our Mining Lease earlier this year. “The unauthorised anti-coal protest camp from which Mr McAvoy made these threats and carried out the alleged assault is unlawful and unsafe. It should not be on our Mining Lease and should be moved.” Wangan and Jagalingou Elder and Applicant Group Committee Member Patrick Malone also called for anti-coal activist groups to respect the wishes of the majority of Traditional Owners. “People need to respect there was an authorisation meeting in 2016 about whether or not to enter into an Indigenous Land Use Agreement with Adani and the vote said that yes, we should, and that vote was 294 to 1 in favour of the agreement,” Mr Malone said. “That was, and remains, the position of the Wangan and Jagalingou Traditional Owners. “The ILUA has ensured we can protect the environment and our cultural heritage on the mine site, and it has given us employment and business opportunities. “So there's a lot of support for the mine and what's happening there with Bravus and I’m confident we are working with the support of the majority of our people.” ENDS Download PDF...