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Activists call on Australian Government to stop climate catastrophe in New Zealand’s backyard

AUCKLAND 10 May, 2017 -- 350 Aotearoa climate activists will gather in Auckland this morning at the Australian Consulate-General to protest the Australian Government’s support for the coal industry.

The focus of the protest is the coal mine proposed by Indian mining conglomerate Adani in Carmichael, Queensland. Adani plans on extracting 60 million tonnes of coal per year in an open cast and underground mine with a footprint the size of Invercargill. Climate activists across the Tasman are undertaking joint action calling on Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and his government to withdraw their support for the mine.

Costumed protesters will be positioned outside the Australian Consulate-General on Quay Street and will present a giant letter addressed to Malcolm Turnbull. The theme will be ‘climate deniers’, with activists dressed as Turnbull, Fred Flintstone and dinosaurs, among others.

A stand will also be available for ‘climate deniers’ to obtain fast-tracked Australian visas.

“Following a successful action at the Australian High Commission in Wellington yesterday, we will continue the pressure on Malcolm Turnbull and his government to stop the Adani coal mine”, said 350 Aotearoa Executive Director Niamh O’Flynn.

“The mine is a climate catastrophe, and if it goes ahead, it will be in New Zealand’s backyard”, added O’Flynn.

350 will finish their week of campaigning in Dunedin, where activists will be staging an event at the ANZ branch there. ANZ was the target of 350’s campaign in 2016, along with Westpac, and remains an active investor in the fossil fuel industry.

“With Westpac recently announcing a strong climate policy, we are letting ANZ know that they need to listen to public opinion and divest from coal, oil and gas. We know that they recently announced a fund that won’t include investments in weapons and tobacco. We are letting them know that fossil fuels are a moral issue too”, O’Flynn said.

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