The Steve Irwin arrives at Abbot Point coal hub - Operation Reef Defence

The Sea Shepherd's ship the Steve Irwin has arrived at Abbot Point in North Queensland, in it's operation to raise awareness of the dangers of the planned Adani mega coal mine. 

The new coal mine, if it goes ahead, will be the biggest coal mine in the southern hemisphere, covering an area the size of Sydney. The Great Barrier Reef would have to be dredged to handle the increased amount of coal ships exporting.

Adani has already shown it's incapacity to stop coal pollution from Abbot Point, and it's desire to hide this from the Australian public. Last year Queensland had a hurricane (a regular occurrence up there as it's in the topics) called Cyclone Debbie, which made landfall around where the present Adani coal port of Abbot Point is. 

Very recently it's come to light that Adani knew the heavy rain would spill coal into the sensitive surrounding wetlands and applied for a Temporary Emissions Licence from the Queensland state gov whilst the hurricane was in progress, which was granted, allowing Adani to pollute three times the amount into the wetlands and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

Adani's coal pollution spill from the hurricane went out of the ballpark. The coal pollution released was 800 times more than even the three times limit given to them, releasing coal pollution into wetlands next to them and the waters of the Great Barrier Reef. 

Wilful breach 'likely to be a live issue' 

At the heart of Adani's extreme reluctance to allow the documents to be released is the fact the company was fined for the pollution they did release.

 The Queensland Government said Adani admitted to breaching its licence, spilling polluted water into the Marine Park that was 800 per cent dirtier than was allowed.

 Adani told the ABC it challenged that interpretation and that "no breach occurred", but details the company fought to keep secret appear to suggest it knew it would breach the licence it was applying for and the Queensland Government knew too.

 According to lawyers from the Queensland Environmental Defenders' Office, this means the breach of the licence could be a much more serious matter.

 "Under Queensland law, a wilful breach of a temporary emissions licence can occur if it was reckless or as a result of gross negligence. 

 "Given the recently released RTI documents include an email from Adani staff demonstrating knowledge of the sump contaminant concentrations, and that it appears Adani did not treat the water prior to the discharge, wilfulness is likely to be a live issue for any prosecution decision." ABC

Again, this has only recently come out after a freedom of information request.

Just imagine what would happen if the new mine went ahead..... 

Before the spill

After the spill