An influx of anti coal messages has left one subcontractor with no choice but to quit its role in a $21 billion Central Queensland mining development.
Stop Adani and School Strike 4 Climate have both claimed responsibility for causing Greyhound Australia to prematurely end its contract with head contractor BMD for Adani Australia’s Carmichael Coal Project, 160km northwest of the town of Clermont.
Cyberbullying tactics
The groups appear to have used cyberbullying tactics on social media and email as well as scripted telephone calls that threatened to boycott travelling with the coach operator unless it stopped transporting mine workers to and from the project.
“Tell Greyhound Australia you will not be travelling with them until they rule out any further work on Adani’s climate-wrecking coal project, boycott Greyhound,” Stop Adani said on Facebook. “Greyhound are deleting the deluge of social media comments exposing them for risking our climate and the Great Barrier Reef by working on Adani’s disastrous coal project, so it is time to give them a call. Click the link below for phone numbers and talking points.”
Operator protects business
Within weeks Greyhound became overwhelmed by the activist messages and finally gave in to their demands in order to protect the business.
“Greyhound Australia has received numerous messages, emails and phone calls from people expressing their thoughts both for and against the Carmichael Rail Network and Adani Carmichael project,” the company said on Facebook. “Following considered deliberation, and in the best interests of our staff, customers, and partners, Greyhound Australia has decided to not enter into a contractual agreement with BMD to service construction of the Carmichael Rail Network beyond our preliminary 31 March 2020 commitment.”
‘Not intimidated’
Adani responded to Greyhound’s decision by stressing the project is “progressing well” with more than 200 people working onsite and it would not be “intimidated”.
“Activists’ latest tactic is to boycott other businesses and threaten their livelihoods and intimidate their employees as they have done with Greyhound who is engaged by one of our sub-contractors,” Adani Mining CEO Lucas Dow said in a public statement. “This latest tactic will not affect construction of the project as bussing providers from around Queensland are lined-up and ready to assist us and our contractors with our transport needs.”
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After Greyhound announced it would end its contract early, Stop Adani responded by asking its 70,000 Facebook followers to thank the company on social media for “not throwing our future under the bus.”
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