News Brief | September 2015
Australia may tweak mining law to avoid Adani-like disasters
Australian PM Tony Abbott revealed plans to change the law, to stop environmental groups from ´sabotaging´ developmental projects, after a court this month blocked a massive India-backed mine.
The legal move, which must pass through parliament, comes after a court revoked approval for the Aus$16.5 billion (US$12.1 billion) Adani-backed Carmichael coal mine in Queensland, which has the potential to be one of the world´s biggest.
´All projects needed to pass strict environmental standards, but once this had been done and approved, we need to proceed to generate jobs and economic growth. It shouldn´t be subject to endless legal sabotage because the law gives green groups an unusual level of access to the courts,´ Abbott said.