Labor defends $600K grant to green activist group
THE Labor Government has again defended its decision to grant a green activist group $600,000 in March
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THE Labor Government has again defended its decision to grant a green activist group $600,000 in March, after it was revealed the same group was now legally representing an anti-Adani body.
The Mackay Conservation Group (MCG), which is being legally represented by the government-funded Environmental Defenders Office (EDO), has sought a judicial review of the proposed Abbot Point Coal Terminal expansion.
Last Thursday the Brisbane Supreme Court dismissed a legal challenge against the expansion of Abbot Point by community group Whitsunday Residents Against Dumping.
The Labor Government came under fire in March when it granted funding to EDO on the day Cyclone Debbie hit North Queensland.
Hinchinbrook MP Andrew Cripps has condemned the latest revelation.
"On one hand you've got some ministers in the Palaszczuk Government saying they support Adani but you've got others actively working against the same project,” he said. "There is a significant difference between Legal Aid and the Environmental Defenders Office. Their sole focus is on supporting the work of activists groups and individuals in terms of economic development.”
A Government spokesman said they did not "gag organisations” if they disagreed with the Government.
"This funding was provided for information, referral, legal advice and community legal education in the area of environmental law,” he said.
"None of this funding is tied to specific cases or matters.”
The spokesman said the Palaszczuk Government had done more to advance the Adani project in just over two years than the LNP did while it was in power.
"Under the Palaszczuk Government we have had 35 key approval milestones, including the granting of the important mining leases and all primary and secondary approvals are in place,” he said.
Originally published as Labor defends $600K grant to green activist group
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