Call the Premier - Acland Decision

Message the Premier - Acland Decision

Today, Acland farmers won the first ever community challenge against a coal project, the Acland Stage 3 expansion on the Darling Downs, in the High Court of Australia.

It’s a historic moment.

But it doesn’t mean the project is permanently beaten. It means that it will now be sent back to the Queensland Land Court for a fresh review of the entire merits of the project.

The Premier has done the right thing, standing up to New Acland Coal and their advertising campaign, and waiting for the High Court decision.

Let’s thank her for that, and ask her to now finally end the uncertainty and negotiate the withdrawal of the mining project, whilst stepping in to support workers and the local community.

Leave a message for the Premier and Deputy Premier in the form at the bottom of this page and we’ll print them all out and present them with it.

Please thank them for what they have done so far to respect the High Court, but explain the effect on the local community has been too great and a restructuring package for workers and withdrawal of the project is needed. The Darling Downs foodbowl is no place for a coal mine.

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Showing 30 reactions

Stephen Kimber commented 2021-02-03 18:09:51 +1100

Thank you for doing the right thing, standing up to New Acland Coal and their advertising campaign, and waiting for the High Court decision.
Dereka Ogden commented 2021-02-03 18:07:24 +1100

At last some commonsense regarding coal and our farmlands. Digging up good farm land for coal which is a dying industry is just plain ridiculous and this is a wonderful win. Let’s hope there is more of the same and the coal lobby’s influence decreases.
Julia Walkden commented 2021-02-03 18:06:50 +1100

Many, many thanks for standing up to New Acland Coal and waiting for the High Court decision! Please end the uncertainty now and negotiate the withdrawal of the mining project, while supporting workers and the local community. Food productions and water security are much more important than coal! Renewable energy is our future!
Bob Crosbie commented 2021-02-03 18:06:15 +1100

No coal mines. Thank you for supporting the High Court decision.
Alexandra Seddon commented 2021-02-03 18:05:04 +1100

Thankyou for respecting the High Court decision about the Acland Mine. The Darling Downs is far too productive and precious to risk allowing any mining there.
Ian Williams commented 2021-02-03 18:03:59 +1100

Re: New Acland Coal

Dear Premier,

Thank you for standing up to New Acland Coal and their advertising campaign, and waiting for the High Court decision.

Yours sincerely

Ian Ross Williams
Kevin ball commented 2021-02-03 18:00:27 +1100
Lorna Morgan commented 2021-02-03 17:59:24 +1100

Dear Premier, now is the time to make a stand. Coal is part of the industrial revolution of the past. Show us that you understand that in this time of climate change, you and your government understand that food production and water security are more important then coal and that the new industrial revolution will be powered by renewable energy.
Peter Hanson commented 2021-02-03 17:57:43 +1100

As prime farming land is the front and centre of this correct decision by the High Court we the public have had our concerns finally acted upon. Any government willing to put mining ahead of food and water security does not deserve to be in place at any level. Premier please make sure we never see another project of this type in Queensland or anything in a similar vain be given the same belief applications will be allowed from the very beginning.
Richard Kite commented 2021-02-03 17:57:19 +1100

Its now time to finally end the uncertainty and negotiate the withdrawal of the mining project, whilst stepping in to support workers and the local community.
Rob Wright commented 2021-02-03 17:55:21 +1100

Thank you our Premier its obvious your ears are not just glued on. Tho the battle is not quite over. We will all be happy when Acland extension has gone. Obviously there are a lot of happy people in the local community. Hopefully we can now concentrate on what the Darling Downs does best, growing food.

I also thank you and Deputy Premier for the respect shown to the aHight Court.

The Downs is no place for a coal mine.
Ange Murphy commented 2021-02-03 17:54:57 +1100

Thank you so much for standing up to coal mining! It is destroying our planet for future generations.
Ruth Thompson commented 2021-02-03 17:54:36 +1100

So pleased the High Court has ruled in favour of protecting our precious farmlands and environment! Thank you for not approving the mining application while the court case was proceeding. Please now proceed with negotiating a withdrawal of the mine project, and deliver a restructure package for workers and support new jobs in agriculture and renewable energy.
Terry Williams commented 2021-02-03 17:52:11 +1100

Dear Premier

Thank you so much. Lets find new jobs for these miners (Acland) , as you have shown can be done with Solar & Hydrogen developments further north in our great state. The smart money started to move out of coal a while back – lets not end up with more stranded fossil fuel assets in Queensland.

Kind regards

Terry Williams
Miree Le Roy commented 2021-02-03 17:51:46 +1100

We don’t need coal mines on the Darling Downs. Please ensure this expansion is shut down for good. Time to move on a Green New Deal and transition workers.
Judy Hardy-Holden commented 2021-02-03 17:47:40 +1100

please don’t do an “Anna Bligh over the Mary River Dam”, and die (politically) because she couldn’t see the environmental damage to be done. Please support the community over their stance regarding the Acland mine. Productive land is more important than coal…especially with burgeoning renewables so available.
Lyn Bartlett commented 2021-02-03 17:46:22 +1100

The World is phasing out coal. Australia should be focusing on renewable energy instead of a destructive, short-term, money-gouging venture
Peter Dart commented 2021-02-03 17:41:56 +1100

Thank you Premier for understanding both the depth of feeling in the community about the loss of quality agricultural land and that New Hope needs to be held accountable for their ruthless approach to such land. Coal has no place in our future if we are to deal with climate change.
Peter Hunt commented 2021-02-03 17:40:56 +1100

Please save our farm land as it is a critical industry. Coal mining is a dying industry so must not be supported.
Terry Hannagan commented 2021-02-03 17:40:18 +1100

Dear Premier,

Here is a big chance to establish yourself firmly in the hearts and minds of your fellow Queenslanders as "The People’s Premier.

Withdraw approval for this piece of vandalism, (AKA, The Acland Mine),and save prime farming land forever.

We’re counting on you, Annastacia!

Respectfully,

Terry Hannagan.
Judith Arthy commented 2021-02-03 17:40:17 +1100

Dear Premier,

As a third generation Queensland woman, now aged 80 years, I add my voice to those of the Lockthegate organisers, and thank you for waiting for the High Court Decision. I commend your Labor Government for your foresight in matters of the environment.

Our successive generations will be grateful for those who have sought to ameliorate Climate Change by any means possible. It is those generations that will suffer the effects of ignoring science for the sake of immediate profit.

I believe that only an enlightened and well informed Labor Government will have the desire and the power to stand against Big Coal in the future. Producing new jobs for workers who are displaced in the coal mining industry is possible in the future industries of renewable energy.
Gillian Pechey commented 2021-02-03 17:40:11 +1100

THankyou Premier Palaszczuk for respecting legal procedure. Please base all project decisions on science and independent benefit/cost analysis, which includes the value of environmental services. Acknowledgments to OCAA.
Sarah Eisel commented 2021-02-03 17:39:09 +1100

Thank you for awaiting the decision in the High Court in favour of the Acland farmers. What a wonderful victory for justice. As a farmer in South East Queensland I have watched this unfold with some trepidation, and am thrilled at where we have now found ourselves. This is in part to your decision to stand up to the bullying of New Acland coal. Please use this opportunity to step in and help organise a friendly withdrawal of the project that will not harm and divide the region any more than has already occurred.
Sarah Eisel commented 2021-02-03 17:39:09 +1100

Thank you for awaiting the decision in the High Court in favour of the Acland farmers. What a wonderful victory for justice. As a farmer in South East Queensland I have watched this unfold with some trepidation, and am thrilled at where we have now found ourselves. This is in part to your decision to stand up to the bullying of New Acland coal. Please use this opportunity to step in and help organise a friendly withdrawal of the project that will not harm and divide the region any more than has already occurred.
Meredith Stanton commented 2021-02-03 17:36:59 +1100

Dear Premier,

Thank you for respecting the high court process in the Darling Downs community fight against New Acland Coal mine expansion – stage 3.

Local farmers and community have fought long and hard to protect their land and the health of their community from this coal mine expansion, they need your support now to ensure farmland and water is protected from any further mine expansion into the future.

Queensland’s rural farming prosperity is about protecting the land and water to ensure a healthy future with sustainable jobs in renewable industries. There is no time left to support fossil fuel projects… please support the transition out of coal mining for Queensland’s coal workers.
Eli Sky commented 2021-02-03 17:35:52 +1100

Dear Premier,

Please ensure that farm land is used as farm land without contamination or compromise by the mining of fossil fuels. Please ensure that environmental protection laws actually do the job they were intended for. Please do not make these kinds of mistakes again. So many of us stand with farmers and environmentalists who want to preserve the land, habitats, agriculture and animals for perpetuity. Please respect the high court decision and act accordingly in future.

kind regards,

Eli Sky
Robyn Walsh commented 2021-02-03 17:35:33 +1100

Thank you for showing respect for the High Court. Now is the time to assist the local community that has been affected by the Acland expansion project and stop this mine permanently. Please show Australia that Labor politicians care about people and our environment, not coal mines and their money.
Adrian Rogers commented 2021-02-03 17:31:56 +1100

Thank you for waiting for the High Court decision, and for standing up to the advertising campaign run by New Acland Coal. There is more than enough coal in this country as it is. In developed countries coal is joining other fossil fuels as the energy of the past, so let us look to the future, i.e. renewables.
Robert Morison commented 2021-02-03 17:31:03 +1100

Premier, The High Court decision on Acland highlights, that decisions that allow coal mining are flawed. It is time to stop coal and move into the future of renewable energy in a bigger way than has occurred to date.
Samantha Parr commented 2021-02-03 17:30:26 +1100