Clive Palmer in bid to stop young Australians challenging coal mine over human rights

We’ve been back in Court to stand up for Human Rights!

Last Friday (August 7, 2020) The Bimblebox Alliance and Youth Verdict contested Waratah Coal’s application to limit their use of Queensland’s new Human Rights Act in their objection to Clive Palmer’s (Waratah’s) Galilee Mine Project.

TBA will argue that the approval of the mine impacts our human rights, and the rights of future generations to a liveable climate and a natural world that is still intact. Waratah Coal lodged its Strike-out application in July as it seeks to rob us of that basic of all rights, as provided under the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The court will likely make its determination later in August, and we will keep you posted.

Thank you for continuing to support Bimblebox. You will be pleased to know that we raised more than $23,600 in our Chuffed fundraiser last month. This will enable us to renovate and upgrade camp facilities for volunteers, scientists, artists and decision makers visiting Bimblebox.

A moment at the 2016 Art, Science and Nature Camp, captured by Tangible Media.

In addition, we were successful in being awarded a grant to produce five short promotional videos about Bimblebox to get the word out further and hopefully gather more supporters. The first of these, Saving Bimblebox, is being launched today (August 12, 2020). We’d like to thank Professor Ian Lowe for narrating on this important video.

The video highlights the natural wonders of Bimblebox Nature Refuge. It will give you a taste of Queensland’s Desert Uplands Bioregion and show you why Bimblebox must be saved.

Over the coming months we plan to release more videos, and beautiful images on social media showcasing the wildlife and plants of the Nature Refuge. In June we launched the #FrogsFriday digital campaign. Every Friday a new image highlights well-known – and some less familiar – inhabitants of Bimblebox, like the cute Bettong below. We hope you are enjoying them. Please share far and wide on Facebook (Bimblebox Nature Refuge), Twitter (@BimbleboxNR) and Instagram (bimblebox_nature_refuge).

The next key date for your diary is 28 August 2020, by which we dare to hope that the Land Court judge will decide in our favour, and Queensland’s Human Rights Act will remain available to us to challenge destructive coal mines.

As always, spread the word, share your outrage with local media, visit us on Facebook, and be sure to follow us on Twitter and Instagram.

We hope you are staying safe and keeping well in these strange times.Thank you again for your wonderful support.
Paola Cassoni and The Bimblebox Alliance

First day in court! Please visit our Chuffed campaign, ‘Saving Bimblebox: Nature before Coal’. Watch our video, read our story, see what we need to raise funds for right now – and very importantly, share!

 Hi friends of Bimblebox,

As you know, Clive Palmer’s Waratah Coal Company has applied for two of the last QLD government requirements for its huge Galilee Coal Project before it can commence mining.

The Bimblebox Alliance Inc. will fight these applications in the QLD Land Court, and we will do so alongside Youth Verdict, standing up for their human rights. The Environmental Defenders Office will provide legal services for both organisations. 

Friday 19th June  2020 is our first day in Court, at the Directions Hearing. The battle has become very real. And we need your help to carry this fight through. 

Please visit our Chuffed campaign, watch our video, read our story, give what you can, and find out just what we need you to help us raise funds for – an essential part of the battle for Bimblebox.

As Paola Cassoni, The Bimblebox Alliance President, has been in lockdown in northern Italy, caught up while visiting her elderly parents in early February, The Bimblebox Alliance members like myself, Sharyn Munro, have had to act here to save Bimblebox. Our wildlife need all the habitat they have left. Our grandchildren need all the help we can give to stop warming their planet!

In this ongoing battle we are also needing more help within The Bimblebox Alliance, with IT, social media and clerical/organisational skills especially. We are all volunteers. Why not join us?

Plus the Refuge itself needs helpers with capable country skills. Contact us if you think you can help in any way: bimblebox@gmail.com

We will be very grateful if you would share our Chuffed campaign with your friends and networks.

Spread the word in any way you can, share your outrage at what is proposed! Write to your local paper. See our website for information to help you. Visit us on Facebook and Twitter @BimbleboxNR  and SHARE!

Thanks to you all for your support,

The Bimblebox Alliance Inc.

Friday 19th June 2020 saw The Bimblebox Alliance Inc. and Youth Verdict at the QLD Land Court, ready for the Directions Hearing in our case against Waratah Coal’s applications for their Mining Lease and Environmental Authority.

A suitable socially-distanced press conference was held outside the Court before a limited number of people were allowed inside; see resulting media links below.

Sheena Gillman spoke for The Bimblebox Alliance, and Melanie McAuliffe for Youth Verdict. Above: that’s the besuited Sean Ryan from EDO on the right.

This story on ABC National News gave good coverage of the issues and what Sheena  and Mel had to say.

https://iview.abc.net.au/show/abc-news-qld  (at 13.24 in)

https://www.abc.net.au/radio/westqld/programs/north-west-and-western-queensland-rural-report/12351792

Note Sheena’s terrific Bimblebox T-shirt! Get yours here!

 Media is beginning to pick up on the current state of proceedings towards our court case after EDO filed objections on TBA’s behalf on the 3rd April. The article below contains a few statements that are not quite right: the Galilee Coal Project will be big, proposing to produce 40MTPA of coal, but just how big in relation to the Adani mine is not known. See Galilee Coal Project Overview.

Nor, as we understood it, was the extension of time (from December 2, 2019 to April 3, 2020) for lodging objections given ‘to allow the community extra time to provide submissions’ but because the Department advised Waratah Coal had to re-apply.

Now we await a date for the Directions Hearing.

Palmer Galilee coal mine plan headed for Land Court

By Melanie Whiting, Gladstone Observer, 23rd April 2020

 TWO Central Queensland mega mines are facing setbacks as the state’s economy struggles through the coronavirus crisis.

Clive Palmer-controlled company, Waratah Coal’s application to build a huge coal mine in the Galilee Basin has received 62 objections after the submission deadline was delayed.

The Galilee Coal project – formerly known as China First – is understood to be four times the size of Adani’s Carmichael mine.

The proposed mine would include two open-cut pits, four underground mines and a 453km railway linking the project to the Abbot Point coal terminal.

The Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy granted an extension until April 3 to allow the community extra time to provide submissions.

A DNRME spokeswoman said it received 35 objections to the mining lease and 27 objections to the environmental authority, with one objection withdrawn.

“As is standard process, all objections have been referred to Queensland’s Land Court for hearing,” the spokeswoman said.

“The Land Court must hear the matter and make a recommendation/s for the Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy’s consideration.”

As the matter was only referred to the Land Court on Tuesday, a date for the hearing has not been set yet.

https://www.gladstoneobserver.com.au/profile/melanie.whiting/