AS THE debate over the controversial mining approvals continued yesterday, a Front Line Action on Coal group member staged a one-man protest in a tree overlooking the Boggabri coal mine.
AS THE debate over the controversial mining approvals continued yesterday, a Front Line Action on Coal group member staged a one-man protest in a tree overlooking the Boggabri coal mine.
Suspending himself in the tree, the activist was prepared to sit there for the next few days – or until police possibly made an arrest – to prevent bulldozers and excavators from continuing work.
The group has been one of the most active campaigners against Idemitsu, and more particularly Whitehaven.
It has now vowed to wage a
campaign of non-violent civil disobedience and bank divestment in the wake of the recent federal government approvals.
Group spokesperson Jonathan Moylan said the mine expansions would destroy thousands of hectares of old-growth forest including critically endangered habitat for koalas, swift parrots, and regent honey-eaters.
Mr Moylan had been responsible for a corporate hoax against Whitehaven last month.
He posed as an ANZ bank employee and issued a media release saying the bank had pulled the primary loan that would fund the Maules Creek project.
Whitehaven temporarily lost millions of dollars in shares following the hoax and the Australian Securities and Investment Commission was called in to investigate.
Mr Moylan said questioning was continuing but he had not been charged.