Bob Brown doubles down on Adani action despite election result

Under fire from both sides of politics amid the fallout from the federal election, the Greens leader turned Adani activist says he’ll keep doing what he’s doing.

BOB Brown has doubled down on planned Adani protests, despite being panned for both costing Labor the federal election and helping ensure the the coalmine now gets the tick.

Leaders including Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Queensland Treasurer Jackie Trad and Australian Council of Trade Unions secretary Sally McManus have pointed to his gas-guzzling trip through the regions for alienating traditional Labor voters and helping deliver a Coalition win.

Brisbane Greens councillor Jonathan Sri declared a Bob Brown “listening tour” would have been better than the “do what we say” convoy.

“Many of us in Brissie were quietly sceptical that a bunch of ‘southern greenies’ (‘southern’ includes Brisbane) driving up to central Queensland to tell people what to think about new coal projects would end well,” he said.

But Mr Brown has been unapologetic, yesterday calling for more protests to stop the Adani coalmine ahead of an announcement from the State Government of a new timeline to potentially approve the mine.

Anti-Adani protesters are planning a march between Brisbane City Hall and today and a mass “die-in” at the Queensland Museum on Sunday, according to activists on Facebook.

Mr Brown told The Courier-Mail the Greens vote in Queensland increased after his caravan to central and northern parts of the state.

Former Greens leader Bob Brown says he’ll keep fighting the fight. Picture: Matthew Newton/AAP

“You’ve got the majority of Australians behind you,” Mr Brown said.

“Protests are part of the democratic system, but keep them decent and respectful, unlike the alcohol-fuelled pro-Adani mob in Clermont.”

The former Tasmanian senator further alleged that Adani was dictating to Queensland from New Delhi, and that the mine did not get a mandate from the federal election result as the Prime Minister Scott Morrison didn’t mention it on the campaign trail.

“All the indicators are that the majority of Australians don’t want Adani.”

Mr Brown also cast doubt on the number of jobs created by the mine, claiming many positions would become automated and that communities would be left high and dry in the event of an economic downturn.

Member for Capricornia Michelle Landry blasted the comments, calling the protests “absolute garbage”.

Ms Landry, who was re-elected in the central Queensland seat on Saturday, said Adani was not pulling the strings on authorities in Australia.

“That’s certainly not what is happening,” she said.

“This is about coalmining in central Queensland, this is about the Galilee Basin and Bowen Basin.”

She said there were thousands of coal workers across the region.

“Our concerns in all of this is if these raging greenies and Bob Browns got their way to stop this coalmine, they would start on others after that.”

Originally published as Bob Brown doubles down on Adani action despite election result