Court set for Carmichael clearing
The Queensland Government is prosecuting mining giant Adani for allegedly providing false and misleading information.
Reports say Adani gave incorrect information to the Environment Department relating to land clearing at the site of its proposed Carmichael mine, leading to charges under the Environmental Protection Act that carry a maximum penalty of $3 million for a company.
“The prosecution relates to information contained in Adani's 2017/2018 annual return for its Carmichael mine,” the department has told the ABC.
“The annual return requires information about planned and actual disturbance of land at the mine.
“The department alleges that Adani's annual return contained false and misleading information about the disturbance already undertaken at the mine during the annual return period.”
It comes after Adani notified the Department of “an administrative paperwork error” in its annual return for the Carmichael mine last year.
The company said some areas “that were disturbed during the final three-and-a-half weeks of the annual return period should have been included”.
The matter is listed for mention at the Brisbane Magistrates Court on August 16.
“These proceedings do not affect work currently underway at the mine site and do not relate to the recent approval of the mine,” the department's statement said.
Adani will face no prosecution on allegations to do with the clearing of land and the sinking of dewatering bores last year, nor for the construction of drill pads this year.
“[The department] has formed the view that Adani has not contravened the applicable conditions of its approval and that view is confirmed by barrister Stephen Keim SC,” it said in a statement.