As you would have seen in the media, the Qld Government is making dodgy deals with Adani. The new deal on royalties is being kept hidden from the public. Queenslanders are not being told the details of this deal, let alone how much it is going to cost them.
Prior to the 2015 election, the current Qld Government promised that "Adani must ensure its project is viable in an open, competitive marketplace. Labor will not do any secret deals." But yesterday the Qld premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, did just that, she signed a secretive royalties deal that could cost the State hundreds of millions of dollars in public funds, dressed as a ‘loan’ for the first five years of the mine’s operation, in Central Queensland. How much Adani is expected to pay and how much they will actually pay back, is in a realm of uncertainty. Exactly what this deal entails, only Adani and the Qld Government knows.
However, what we do know is how Adani does business. We know that they have head offices in Cayman Islands tax havens. We know that they have been operating in Australia for nearly 7 years and have paid almost no tax. We know the Adani Group have been investigated for tax evasion and corruption. Why the Qld government is willing to bet Queensland funds on it is another question left with unclear and unjustified answers.
Adani has said this decision paves the way for them to start the mine, with the Adani’s billionaire chairman, Gautam Adani, personally having thanked the Queensland Premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, “and the elected members of the state for their continued support to make this happen”.
Adani and Annastacia may be shaking hands but we know that this deal will further jeopardize global temperatures, precious water resources, and the survival of our already fragile Great Barrier Reef. We cannot allow this to happen.
Contact Palaszczuk and your elected representative and ask them to release the details of this deal with Adani! Tell them you won't accept any special deals for Adani. We want QLD to stand firm with their election promise not to give any public money or subsidies to Adani's mine. Taxpayers shouldn't be bankrolling Adani - there must be no royalties deferral and no $1billion loan from Federal Government.
Premier Anastasia Palaszczuk 3719 7000
Deputy Jackie Trad 3719 7100
Treasurer Curtis Pitt 3719 7200
Environment minister Stephen Miles 3719 7330
Member for Mackay Julieanne Gilbert 49607100
Member for Mirani Jim Pearce 4806 0700
This release is attributed this Lock The Gate article