A multinational engineering consultancy received several unexpected visitors outside of its CBD office on August 8.
About 30 protestors stormed the foyer of GHD’s Brisbane office at 145 Ann Street. The stunt was meant to protest against the consultancy’s lead role in helping Adani Australia’s $21 billion Carmichael Coal Project secure final approval from the Queensland Government on June 14.
“On its website GHD claims to have a ‘commitment to sustainable development’ yet it is working on a project that threatens water supplies, trashes Traditional Owners’ land rights and will fuel worse heat waves, bush fires, droughts and storms,” the group said on the Stop Adani website.
Arrests fail to stop protestors
Queensland police officers quickly arrived to the scene where they arrested 10 protestors but it appears arresting the protestors will not deter them from doing it again.
“They chose to get arrested so they are doing what they think is necessary,” protestor Guy Lane told the Nine Network.
Related articles
Anti-Adani protestors glue themselves to Brisbane CBD street
$21B mega mine delayed after wildlife plan rejected
Industry demands final approval for $21B mega mine before election begins
Court rejects Indigenous appeal against radioactive mine worth $430M.
Executives targeted
The Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) has started a campaign for activists to email and ask GHD executives to stop working on the project. Signatures are also being collected for an ACF petition for the consultancy to stop dealing with Adani.
“Contact GHD and ask it to stop helping Adani drain precious water, undermine Aboriginal land rights and turbocharge global warming,” ACF said on its website. “We need to show GHD that the majority of Australians don’t want Adani’s disastrous mine and that working with them would be a bad idea, not just for our planet but for GHD’s reputation too.”
The group claims more than 50 major companies have stopped working with Adani already.
Protestors strain police resources
Meanwhile, 27 Extinction Rebellion protestors were freed after spending the night in the Brisbane Watchhouse, which strained the buildings limited resources. Nineteen have already pleaded guilty to contravening a police direction, breaching peace and obstructing both traffic and police. Eight of the protestors will contest the charges.
Several fines were issued worth between $300 and $800. Some received good behaviour bonds while Eric Herbert, who glued himself to a busy Queen Street intersection, was ordered to complete 90 hours of community service after appearing before the courts six times.
Extinction Rebellion now plans to organise another CBD shutdown sometime in October.
Add Comment