Midnight Oil take a detour to the Reef to protest the controversial Adani mine in Queensland

AUSTRALIA’S musical activists Midnight Oil have added their power and passion to the fight to stop the controversial Adani mine in far North Queensland.

Midnight Oil pictured on the Great Barrier Reef. Picture: Justin J Heitman.

AUSTRALIA’S musical activists Midnight Oil have added their power and passion to the fight to stop the controversial Adani mine in far North Queensland.

Staking their Coral Not Coal claim on a hump of sand poking out of the Great Barrier Reef at low tide, the Oils fear the mine and related projects could cause irreversible damage to the natural wonder.

The Oils detoured from their Great Circle tour to perform a Reef benefit concert in Cairns and support the national Stop Adani rallies throughout Australia on the weekend.

Frontman Peter Garrett, also a former environment minister, said the mine which is backed by a Federal Government loan of $1 billion to the Indian developer, could have a serious impact on the region’s multibillion-dollar tourism industry.

“We wanted to be able to show everybody that we can’t kill the goose that lays the golden egg, that provides all these jobs, contributes to the economy, is responsible for healthy oceans and gives people so much joy,” he said.

“We can’t kill that, we can’t let that go.”

Midnight Oil pictured on the Great Barrier Reef. Picture: Justin J Heitman.

The band teamed with Great Barrier Reef Legacy to stage their protest on the reef’s Vlasoff Cay and promote the independent scientists’ Search for the Super Coral expedition next month.

Dozens of scientists from around the world will explore the northern reaches of the reef to identify coral which has survived the bleaching events and cultivate it in the hope it can regenerate areas devastated by the impact of pollution and climate change.

The Oils’ Rob Hirst did his own exploration of the reef from the Cay.

“I went for a swim and was exhilarated to see patches of beautifully coloured pink and purple coral because I had feared the worst,” he said.

“But there were areas that appeared to be dead or dying.” Working on the outside of politics again, Garrett said it was intensely frustrating to see the Federal Government unravel the

programs he introduced as environment minister.

Midnight Oil pictured on the Great Barrier Reef. Picture: Justin J Heitman.

“It’s definitely bitter sweet having started really important programs like Reef Rescue which spent a lot of taxpayers’ money working with farmers to improve water quality on the reef,” he said.

“And starting to bring down greenhouse emissions through the trading scheme.

“And Tony Abbott comes along and wrecks it all.”

Garrett also hit out at Pauline Hanson’s call to raise the voting age to 21.

“Hanson wants to deny millions of young Australians the vote. They are able to serve in the armed forces, they can become bankrupt, they can get married — unless they are gay but that will change soon — and she doesn’t want them to vote,” he said.

“The poverty of that political viewpoint is clear.”

Midnight Oil pictured on the Great Barrier Reef. Picture: Justin J Heitman.

The band dived deep into their vast catalogue of 170 songs for the intimate benefit gig at the Tank Arts Centre in Cairns.

Opening with Surfing With A Spoon from their 1978 self-titled debut album, the Oils themed the set to soundtrack their reef mission.

It was one for the diehard fans with tracks including Wedding Cake Island, River Runs Red, Koala Sprint, Short Memory, Blue Sky Mine, No Time For Games and Dreamworld.

Foxtel’s Max will broadcast the concert next month.