India’s Adani organization, whose billionaire chairman has been charged by US authorities with fraud, is being accused of racism at its coal operation in Australia after an Aboriginal organization complained to the Human Rights Commission of the nation.
Earlier this week, the Queensland state-based Nagana Yarrbayn Wangan & Jagalingou Cultural Custodians filed a lawsuit stating that the Bravus Mining and Resources company had engaged in significant racial discrimination.
According to a statement from the Aboriginal group, the complaint describes how Adani workers attempted to “verbally and physically obstruct and prevent” them from using springs close to the company’s Carmichael coal mine “in order to perform cultural rites and share cultural knowledge.”
Adrian Burragubba, Nagana Yarrbayn Senior Cultural Custodian, stated in the statement, “We are not putting up with this any longer after years of harassment and vilification from Adani.”
Since our attorneys issued a notice of concerns last year, Adani has been under scrutiny for their actions, but they have not acted. The only solution is legal action,” he continued.
A representative for Bravus “completely denied” the group’s accusations, claiming that they were an effort to prevent Bravus from providing its own explanation and “sharing facts with the public about our conversations with him and members of his ‘Family Council’.”
Based on the statement, the mine has been conducting its operations in a safe and responsible manner for over two years, in compliance with Queensland and Australian laws, and in collaboration with the majority Traditional Owner group for the mining area, as stipulated in ratified Indigenous Land Use Agreements and Cultural Heritage Management Plans.
It further stated that it has not been notified of any complaints by the Australian Human Rights Commission.
