Courts slap down Abbott over Adani "sabotage" comment

Abbott and the Lieberals are furious that the $bazillion Adani Reef wrecking carbon bomb coal venture was stopped in it's tracks by the Federal Court of Australia, after Team Abbott was caught cutting environmental corners.

He has blatantly accused the green environmental groups of using the court system to "sabotage" the Adani project. The courts have hit back at Team Abbott.

Mr Abbott said he was "frustrated" by the ruling because "this is a very important project, not just for Australia, but for the wider world".

Earlier, he told News Corp that courts could be used to "sabotage" mining projects such as the Queensland proposal by Adani, an Indian mining giant.

"As a country we must, in principle, favour projects like this," he reportedly said.

NSW Bar Association president Jane Needham, SC, expressed concern at Mr Abbott's remarks.

"These comments demonstrate a lack of understanding of the independent role of the courts in our democracy," she said.

"The courts exist to make decisions according to the law, not to further the interests of particular individuals or organisations, including government.

"They are an independent arbiter of disputes, and politicians need to understand and respect their non-partisan role."

Ms Needham said courts were not the servant of the government, and "any such implication is inimical to the basic principle of the separation of powers", which is fundamental to the Westminster system. Read more