I’m devastated: Qld environment minister’s Adani confession

Qld’s environment minister told an anti-Adani protester she was “devastated” by the mine’s approval.

Days after her department approved Adani’s construction of the Carmichael mine, Queensland environment minister Leeanne Enoch has told an anti-Adani protester she is “devastated” by the decision.

A video posted to the “Stop Adani Cairns” Facebook page on Saturday, shows Ms Enoch being grilled on the issue while attending an awards ceremony hosted in Cairns.

A woman, wearing a “Stop Adani” t-shirt underneath her blouse can be seen asking Ms Enoch why her department last week ticked off on the final environmental approval to give Adani the green light to proceed with construction of the central Queensland mine.

Ms Enoch told the woman the approval “was devastating” but that she “had to obey the law” in granting its approval.

Qld Environment Minister Leeanne Enoch talks to an anti Adani protester in Cairns.

The protester asked: “Are you going to fight for us?”

“Absolutely. Have a good day,” Ms Enoch replied.

The Stop Adani Cairns Facebook account described the encounter with the minister.

“We asked Leanne (sic) Enoch how she feels about selling Wangan and Jagalingou water sovereignty out to a coal billionaire,” the comment said.

“Ms Enoch looked us in the eye and said ‘devastated’.”

The group reported that Ms Enoch’s speech at the awards ceremony was interrupted by activists who called out “stop Adani, you could have stopped it” from the side of the stage.

‘My family’s safety threatened’: Enoch

In a statement this afternoon, Ms Enoch said the encounter took place at the Yarrabah Music and Cultural Festival, which she attended before the Cassowary Awards.

She said the woman only revealed her “Stop Adani” t-shirt as a photo of the pair was being taken and that her comment about being “devastated” related to the way the traditional owners of the Carmichael site have been affected by the process.

“At the Yarrabah Festival I was approached by a person who introduced herself as a union member and asked for a photo with me,” Ms Enoch said.

“As the photo was taken, that person lifted up a layer of clothing to reveal a ‘Stop Adani’ t-shirt.

“She asked me how I felt about the way traditional owners have been affected by the Adani mine, to which I responded, “devastated”.”

Ms Enoch says the woman only revealed her “Stop Adani’ shirt as this picture was being taken. Picture: Supplied

Ms Enoch said the issue would have been less devastating for traditional owners if there was a treaty in place.

“I understand this is an issue that people care a great deal about and I am devastated at how this project has been used as a weapon to divide our state,” she said.

The environment minister said she and her family had received “offensive comments, and our personal safety has been threatened” since the department approved the groundwater management plan on Thursday.

“Last week’s decision about the Groundwater Plan was not a decision made by me, nor by any members of Cabinet,” Ms Enoch said.

“These environmental management plans did not cross my desk.

“Under Queensland legislation, approval of an environmental authority and associated management plans are made by the regulator, free of political interference.”

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk told reporters that Ms Enoch was referring to tensions within indigenous communities that had been fuelled by the mine’s approval.

“It is my understanding that Minister Leanne Enoch was devastated in terms of the division that that was causing in indigenous communities,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“There was a lot of division in indigenous communities over this issue and my understanding is that when that photo was taken the young woman in question did not have her shirt up.