Stop Adani Gold Coast stage ‘die in’ protest at HSBC, Southport over Carmichael mine

Stop Adani activists were the target of abuse from passers by as the protesters staged a “die-in” outside HSBC, Southport, ahead of the bank’s climate policy release.

ANTI-coal protesters stood defiant as several members of the public called them “f***ing idiots” during a protest on the Gold Coast.

Stop Adani activists staged a “die-in protest” outside the HSBC Southport bank branch on Wednesday, calling on the bank to dump coal ahead of their climate policy release.

Protesters with banners calling on HSBC to dump Adani's coal outside the Southport branch of the bank. Picture: Glenn Hampson

They covered pillows with white sheets to look like dead bodies and draped crime scene tape outside the bank branch while 10 people held banners and chanted.

Several passers-by hurled abuse at the protesters, who responded by saying “have a nice day”.

Others questioned why the activists were continuing to call the mining giant “Adani” when it was rebranded to Bravus Mining & Resources last year.

Despite this, no one was arrested and the protest remained peaceful.

“We’re here today because investment in coal is killing our Great Barrier Reef and our reef is a national treasure,” Stop Adani protester Jenni Fleming said.

The group plans to maintain a presence outside the branch all day, watched by local police. Picture: Glenn Hampson

“HSBC has continued investment in the Adani group and its mega mine up in the Central Queensland area is pretty bad news for the Great Barrier Reef.”

The group called for HSBC to stop funding Bravus and “demand that Adani walks away from the Carmichael Mine”.

A spokesperson for HSBC vehemently denied any involvement with the Adani Carmichael project.

“In 2014, we made it clear we will not finance the project, and this has not changed. We are not a direct investor in the Adani Group,” they said.

“Our policies prohibit the financing of new coal-fired power projects anywhere in the world. We have committed to phase out all coal financing in the OECD and EU by 2030 and globally by 2040.

Picture: Glenn Hampson

“HSBC has also committed to aligning its provision of finance to net zero by 2050 or sooner, and to set short and medium term targets to achieve this.

“We expect to provide between $750bn and $1trn of financing and investment over the next decade to enable the net zero transition.”

A spokesperson for Adani said the company uses existing channels within the Reef for shipping, and would not be drawn on claims from the Stop Adani protesters.

“The specific details of our funding arrangements are commercial in confidence. The Carmichael mine and rail Project is fully funded to completion,” they said.

“All ships transporting our coal will transit through existing channels within the Great Barrier Reef.

“These approved shipping zones have been in use for many years and are governed by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, which uses a 24/7 radar tracking system to prevent shipping incidents and accidents.”

EARLIER: ENVIRONMENTAL protesters from Stop Adani are staging a ‘die in’ at international banking giant HSBC on the Gold Coast.

The protest action follows news in the Sydney Morning Herald last month that HSBC’s advertisements that claim to be investing in the future of the Great Barrier Reef are the subject of a complaint to the Ad Standards regulator.

“Since the signing of the Paris Climate accord in 2016 HSBC has provided $110bn to the fossil fuel sector,” Stop Adani Gold Coast spokesperson Jenni Fleming said.

“Today HSBC is still investing in Adani Group companies who are funding the disastrous Carmichael coal mine that will ship coal through the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

“The mining and burning of coal is driving climate chaos, causing marine heatwaves and coral bleaching events that are killing the Reef.”

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Originally published as Stop Adani Gold Coast stage ‘die in’ protest at HSBC, Southport over Carmichael mine