Adani Protesting by Australian Indigenous People for the Past Four Years

In Central Queensland, the second-largest state in Australia, a small “sacred fire” has been burning for over 1,300 days in the Wangan and Jagalingou tribal area. This flame marks the site of a protest that has continued for more than four years. The protest stems from a long-standing conflict between a section of the local Indigenous community and the Carmichael coal mine — one of Australia’s most controversial mining projects.

The Adani Group, India’s largest energy company, owns the coal mine and runs it locally under the Bravus moniker. The mine is located on the traditional lands of the Wangan and Jagalingou (W&J) people. Leading a protracted conflict against Bravus, Adrian Burragubba and his son Coedie McAvoy see it as a struggle for their cultural and spiritual survival.

Adrian stated, “Where my land is, there is a mine trying to destroy my country. This country is like a map of my history and the knowledge of my ancestors.”

At the heart of their protest are the Doongmabulla Springs, a sacred site believed to have been created by the Rainbow Serpent, Mundagudda — a powerful ancestral figure in Aboriginal mythology, often associated with water, creation, and the land.

An Environmentally Significant and Sensitive Area

The Doongmabulla Springs are connected to a vast underground water system that helps sustain life in the arid lands. They lie above the Galilee Basin — one of the world’s largest untapped coal reserves, spanning 247,000 square kilometers with over 30 billion tons of coal. Some scientists believe this area is of critical environmental importance and is highly sensitive.

Professor Matthew Currell, a leading hydrogeologist from Griffith University in Melbourne, has studied the region for years. He said, “We have periodically detected traces of hydrocarbons in the spring water. If these hydrocarbons appeared only after mining began, we need to explain why. If linked to mining activity, it’s a warning sign that the water quality is at immediate risk.”

What Did Adani’s Company Say About Groundwater Impact?

Prof. Currell added, “The actual mining area appears larger than initially approved. I believe the entire approval process now requires a full reassessment. Growing evidence suggests the mine may have a more significant impact on groundwater than previously estimated.”

A peer-reviewed study co-authored by Prof. Currell and Dr. Angus Campbell in 2024 raised concerns about Adani/Bravus’s groundwater modeling. The company rejected the findings, accusing some authors of running an anti-coal campaign — a charge the researchers denied.

In 2023, Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, reviewed Adani’s groundwater impact analysis as part of an ongoing legal case. The review concluded that Adani’s models were unsuitable for properly assessing environmental impacts.

Following a review of Adani/Bravus’s groundwater monitoring data, the government imposed a ban on underground mining as per their original plan, citing uncertainty over its impact on the springs. Adani is currently challenging this ban in court, maintaining that it has complied with all environmental and legal standards.

A company statement said, “We have not breached any groundwater conditions, and there is no current or future risk to the Doongmabulla Springs complex from our authorized mining activities.”

Queensland’s Environment Minister, Andrew Powell, stated, “We are committed to enforcing appropriate action to protect the cultural and environmental values of the springs.”

A Nation Divided Over the Coal Mine

The government’s decision to approve the Carmichael coal mine has deeply divided Australia for over a decade. Adrian Burragubba and his family argue that the mine endangers their sacred water sources, undermines their rights, culture, and their deep connection with the ‘country’ — a term Aboriginal Australians use for their ancestral lands.

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The 2007 UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples calls for obtaining free, prior, and informed consent before undertaking projects that affect Indigenous land rights, including mining. While not legally binding, it serves as a framework for improving relationships between states and Indigenous communities.

The coal mine has also become a focal point in the national climate change debate, drawing both widespread protests and strong support from mining communities. Queensland approved the project for its potential to create jobs and boost exports.

Australia remains one of the world’s top coal producers, with the Carmichael mine exporting to Asia-Pacific markets where coal demand is expected to remain strong despite a global shift toward renewable energy.

Bravus claims it has invested over $486 million in local communities where its mining workers live. However, allegations about poor working conditions have surfaced.

Journalist Kim Nguyen, who covered the Carmichael mine for years, spoke with workers who said they were exposed to unsafe dust conditions and forced to work in substandard facilities, often fearful of speaking out.

Mining, Safety, and Its Impact on Indigenous Communities

Queensland’s mining safety regulator confirmed 875 pages of serious incident reports were filed between 2019 and 2024, though it stated the mine’s incident rate was largely in line with industry averages.

Bravus responded, “We have a zero-fatality record. We maintain high standards and comply with all laws. We encourage people to raise their concerns privately or directly, and we address them when they arise.”

When the state approved the mine without Indigenous consent, seven of the W&J family groups signed land use agreements with Adani in exchange for community funds.

Jackie Broderick, a W&J community woman, said, “It’s divided families. I grieve over the destruction of our land. But even if we hadn’t agreed, they would have proceeded anyway. We took what we could.”

Others believe the deal came at too high a price.

Coedie said, “Mining is like a god in this country. One mine has divided the entire nation.”

Bravus stated, “Adrian Burragubba and his fellow activists have tried for years to damage our reputation and stop our Carmichael mine. But our operations comply with Queensland and Australian laws, and we work safely and responsibly.”

The Legal Battle Continues

Adrian is now seeking judicial review in Queensland‘s Supreme Court, arguing that the mine violates his community’s human rights by threatening a sacred site. His case is based on Section 28 of Queensland’s Human Rights Act, which grants Indigenous people the right to practice their culture and maintain their connection to land and water.

His lawyer, Alison Rose, believes the case could set a new precedent. She said, “This is a critical test case for other First Nations people wanting to protect their culture and land.”

This is Adrian’s fourth case against the government. Despite previous losses, legal costs that bankrupted him after a $680,000 bill, and internal community divisions, Adrian, his son Coedie, and their family remain steadfast.

Adrian said, “We come from that water. Without it, we die. Without that land, we have nothing.”

The Queensland government has asked the court to dismiss Adrian’s human rights case. The verdict is still pending.