Mayor invites Chappell Brothers to understand fight for Adani

Published on 24 March 2017

Rockhampton Regional Mayor Strelow has extended an invitation to the Chappell brothers to visit Rockhampton for an informed conversation about the proposed Carmichael mine after they co-signed a letter opposing the project last week.

Mayor Strelow said the project, which has received strong support from the Rockhampton Region since its onset, has been plagued with misinformation that she wishes to personally address and correct with both Ian and Greg Chappell.

Mayor Strelow would be happy to pay their standard speakers fee and make arrangements for their travel.

Their letter to Mr Adani stated the mine proposal ‘does not have the support of the Traditional Owners of the land.’

“This is very misleading information,” Mayor Strelow said.

“While there is a minority of traditional land owners who have launched legal challenges against the project, I have met regularly with official representatives of the Wangan and Jagalingou people and it is clear that they strongly support the Carmichael mine proceeding, in fact, the Adani agreement when put to a meeting of the community was passed 294 to one,” Cr Strelow’s letter stated.

“They have been working constructively with Adani and my Council to ensure that the benefits of the mine are shared by the traditional owners at every stage of the project.”

Mayor Strelow said that if the Chappell brothers were to visit Rockhampton they would have the opportunity to speak in person with members of the broader community and the Wangan and Jagalingou people in order to better understand the benefits of this project for regional Queensland.

In previous statements on Adani’s mine project, Mayor Strelow has highlighted the importance for an informed conversation about the journey from a highly coal dependent global community to a world with a focus on renewable energy, firmly stating her belief that the extraction of Australia’s cleaner coal is part of that journey.

“Right now we have families and economies, countries apart, hinging on the future of this mine,” she said.

“The benefits extend well beyond an economic uplift for our economy – let’s not lose sight of the fact that this project will help bring others out of poverty, allowing them the right to have access to the same essential necessities that we are so fortunate to have.”

Council is awaiting a response from Greg and Ian Chappell.