Thousands of people gathered across Australia to protest a coal mine in North Queensland on Saturday.
Protesters in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and the Gold Coast rallied against Indian company Adani’s plans for the mine in the Galilee Basin.
The protests were part of Stop Adani group’s ‘big day of protest’, with 45 rallies across the nation.
The $16 billion coal mine was given the green light earlier this year, with pre-planning construction set to begin next month.
Thousands of people gathered across Australia to protest a coal mine in North Queensland on Saturday
Protesters form a sign reading ‘Stop Adani’ at a Melbourne protest against the Adani coal mine
Protesters wearing masks depicting Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Adani founder Gautam Adani are seen rallying on Bondi beach
Organisers believe around 1500 people attended a protest on Bondi Beach, using their bodies to spell out ‘#StopAdani’ on the sand.
Protesters in Melbourne’s Princes Park followed suit, with many also running through ‘Stop Adani’ flags wearing ‘Team Reef’ shirts.
A further 2,000 protesters packed the Melbourne park carrying placards which read ‘Protect our Future’.
The rallies also featured protesters wearing over-sized masks of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Adani founder Gautam Adani.
A protester wearing a mask depicting Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is seen rallying on Bondi beach
Crowds gather at a protest against the Adani coal at Princes Park in Melbourne
A further 2,000 protesters packed the Melbourne park carrying placards which read ‘Protect our Future’
Many protesters took to Bondi Beach with placards against the coal mine
Protesters are calling on the Queensland and Federal governments to stop the Adani coal mine
A play on words with a strong message, this banner calls for the coalition government to ban the Adani mine
Around 1500 people rallied against the mine on Bondi Beach on Saturday as part of Stop Adani group’s ‘big day of protest’
Nine hundred people are believed to have taken part in a Newtown rally, while protesters took to the lawns of Parliament House in Canberra with large banners against the coal mine.
CEO of 350.org, a group that opposes new coal, oil and gas projects, Blair Palese, said both governments were not listening to the public.
‘While the Queensland and Federal governments remain staunch supporters of this dirty mine, new polling shows the Australian community is angry that $1 billion of public money could be handed to Adani for a mine which will wreck the climate and the Reef,’ he told The Sydney Morning Herald.
Young protesters Alena and Naami were among the 2,000 who rallied against Adani in Melbourne
Crowds gather on Sydney’s Bondi Beach to ally against a proposed coal mine in North Queensland
Protesters took to the lawns of Parliament House in Canberra with large banners against the coal mine
Opponents to the mine believe it will damage the already ravaged Great Barrier Reef
The construction of the mine, if it is given a green light, will be the largest in Australia
‘Voters are clear. They believe the Queensland government should stick to its promise and block the $1 billion loan to billionaire Adani for his private rail line.’
A ReachTEL poll, released on Saturday by the Stop Adani movement, shows 56 per cent of Australians oppose the coal project.
The construction of the mine, if it is given a green light, will be the largest in Australia.
Opponents to the mine believe it will damage the already ravaged Great Barrier Reef
Protesters across the nation rallied against Indian company Adani’s plans for the mine in the Galilee Basin
The event is one of many occurring around the country as part of the Stop Adani National Day of Action
Opponents to the mine believe it will damage the already ravaged Great Barrier Reef and bring environmental harm to the area.
Both State and Federal governments have defended the proposed mine, which promises to bring much-needed jobs back to far North Queensland.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said while the mine will help many families seeking employment, Adani will be held to ‘the toughest environmental conditions’.
‘You only have to travel to regional Queensland to understand what this project means to thousands of families out there that will be employed through this project,’ she said.
‘At the end of the day we have the toughest environmental conditions attached to that mine.’