Protesters rally against Queensland mega mine as PM Malcolm Turnbull meets Adani boss

PROTESTERS will rally against a proposed mega coal mine in Queensland as Malcolm Turnbull meets the mining group’s boss in Melbourne today.

Climate change activists will again rally in Melbourne today to protest the proposed Adani megamine in central Queensland. Protesters pictured here took to the streets in May over the mine and Australia’s big four banks investing in fossil fuel. Picture: Dean Sewell/Oculi/Reru for 350.org.

PROTESTERS will rally against the proposed Adani coal mine in central Queensland which they claim will damage the Great Barrier Reef as the Prime Minister meets with the mining group’s chief executive in Melbourne today.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull will meet with Adani chief executive Guatam Adani, who plans to build the world’s largest new coal mine in the Galilee Basin in west Queensland.

The pair are set to discuss a $1 billion federal government loan to pay for a rail line that will link the proposed coal mine to the port.

Environmental groups are unhappy with the meeting because they say Mr Turnbull promised he wouldn’t give public money to Adani’s Galilee Basin coal projects.

The project will consist of six open-cut pits and up to five underground mines, and will supply Indian power plants.

The proposed rail line will extend from the Galilee Basin to the coal export port of Abbot Point. The Federal Government is expected to pay for half the costs of rail production.

Protesters will gather in Melbourne today to rally against Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s meeting with Adani chief executive Guantam Adani over a proposed Queensland coal mine. Picture: Gary Ramage

It also involves dredging an area near the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

Australian Conservation Foundation chief executive Kelly O’Shanassy said the mine would be a “global climate catastrophe”.

Protesters will gather outside the Commonwealth offices and have a puppet of Mr Turnbull being controlled by Mr Adani.

It’s the latest in a string of protests throughout the year by Greenpeace, Get Up and the ACF which have so far failed to halt the project.

The Queensland state government is set to announce a final deal on the project in Townsville today where Premier Anastasia Palaszczuk will meet with Mr Adani.

The mining group has confirmed it will begin construction of the project next year.

Australian Minister for Resources and Northern Australia Matt Canavan says the proposed Adani coal mine will be good for Queensland. Picture: AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

Federal minister for resources and Northern Australia Matt Canavan said last night the loan for the rail link would not be his call.

Mr Canavan said the independent board of the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility — which has $5 billion to invest in infrastructure projects — would make that decision, adding there had been no preliminary approval.

“They’re conducting further due diligence on the project now. That will take them a few more months,” Senator Canavan told ABC radio.

“I can’t direct the board, it’s up to them.” He also downplayed suggestions Adani has struggled to secure private funding for the mine and rail projects.

“It’s not for me to comment on Adani’s finance capabilities ... I’ll leave it for Adani to explain their finances,” he told the interviewer. Senator Canavan said the Adani mine was good news for Queensland and Australia. “Providing India with its energy needs from Australian coal is good for the environment, because it burns at a higher rate and produces less emissions per kilowatt-hour,” he said.