Stop Adani protesters target federal parliament opening

February 15, 2019
Issue 
A protest against Adani's proposed coalmine outside the first sitting day of parliment for 2019, in Canberra on February 12.

About 500 protesters rallied outside federal parliament on February 12 under the slogan "Stop Adani - Climate action now!" 

Speaking to the protesters, Doctors for the Environment Australia's Sujata Allan said to strong applause: "This is the year we will finally put a stop to the Adani coalmine.

"We know climate change is driving longer, hotter heatwaves. And heatwaves are causing increasing numbers of deaths of people and animals.

"Climate change, and coalmines like Adani, are an inter-generational injustice. 

"We must put a stop to Adani and other major coal projects," she said.

High school climate strike organiser Clara McArthur also addressed the crowd, saying: "Students can organise a better democracy than we see behind us." 

"We need 100% renewable energy by 2030, and no new coal mines being built.

"Around 40 countries are acting in solidarity with the March 15 high school walk-out for action on climate change. Let's build the Australian mobilisation as big as possible."

"This is going to be a climate federal election coming up," the chairperson told the rally. "Some 73 per cent of Australians agree that climate change is an important problem, and want real action.

"We can now transform the nature of climate change politics in Australia. Our real source of power is not in parliament, but from the people," he concluded.

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