15/05/2019

Adani Water Plan Ticked Off Within Hours Despite Lack Of Detail, Internal CSIRO Emails Reveal

ABC News - Michael Slezak

The Government wanted a letter from the CSIRO, stating whether Adani's plans satisfied the scientists' concerns. (Twitter: Matthew Canavan)
Internal CSIRO correspondence reveals the science agency was pushed to formally accept the Federal Government's approval of Adani's water plans in a single afternoon.
Despite the Government saying Australia's top science agencies "confirmed" Adani's water plans had "met strict scientific requirements", the emails show CSIRO was determined not to give a "categoric" response.
The correspondence obtained by the ABC through freedom of information laws exposes further discrepancies between what the Government said about the assessment of Adani's environmental plans, and what actually occurred.
The newly uncovered emails follow hand-written notes from Geoscience Australia, obtained by the
Key points:
  • Internal CSIRO correspondence explicitly shows the agency went out of its way to avoid giving any categorical scientific advice on Adani's plans
  • A letter from the CSIRO to the environmental department noted other concerns were yet to be addressed
  • The emails obtained by the ABC also show how rushed the CSIRO was to provide its "formal assent" to the department
ABC in April, showing Adani refused to accept several of its recommendations, counter to what the Government said at the time.
Two days before the federal election was called, Environment Minister Melissa Price signed off on Adani's two groundwater management plans, meaning Adani had passed all the tests required by the Federal Government before it could start constructing its proposed Carmichael coal mine.
When announcing the decision, Ms Price said she was simply following the advice of scientists.
"I have accepted the scientific advice," she said, declaring that CSIRO and Geoscience Australia had provided "assurances that these steps address their recommendations".
But internal CSIRO correspondence explicitly shows the agency went out of its way to avoid giving any categorical advice of that nature.
An email sent by CSIRO research director Warwick McDonald on 5 April at 3:36pm who was waiting on a response from CSIRO groundwater hydrologist Russell Crosbie. (Supplied)
'The devil is in the detail that we do not have'
The environment department wanted a letter from the CSIRO, stating whether Adani's plans satisfied the scientists' concerns about the company's plans.
They were asked to do that on the basis of a verbal briefing and a short summary document provided that day.
In drafting the letter, CSIRO research director Warwick McDonald said he had "been careful about not being categoric about the degree [to which] these responses will satisfy the recommendations".
He explained they couldn't give categorical advice because "the devil is in the detail that we do not have".
Melissa Price signed off on Adani's groundwater management plans two days before the federal election was called. (AAP: Lukas Coch)
The final wording, sent to the department that day and published on their website, shows that lack of certainty.
The letter said CSIRO thought Adani's plans "should satisfy" their key recommendation, which was to change the underlying model that all of their predictions were based on.
It also noted other concerns that CSIRO had were yet to be addressed, but should be examined in other documentation, that would be assessed after the mine was constructed.
Despite the CSIRO advice lacking any categorical statement, Ms Price presented CSIRO approval of the plans as a key basis for her giving them the green light.
"Both CSIRO and Geoscience Australia have confirmed the revised plans meet strict scientific requirements," she said in a statement.
"Following this independent assessment and the Department of the Environment and Energy's recommendation for approval, I have accepted the scientific advice and therefore approved the groundwater management plans..."

Assurance sought in a flurry of afternoon emails
The emails obtained by the ABC also show how rushed the CSIRO was to provide its "formal assent" to the department's prior decision to recommend approval of Adani's groundwater plans.
Around lunch time on Friday 5 April, Dr Jane Coram from the CSIRO was called into a phone briefing with both the secretary of the environment department and the deputy secretary in charge of environmental protection.
Step through the key events in the planning of Australia's biggest mining project, the Carmichael coal mine in remote central Queensland.
Dr Coram said in an email to her colleagues the department bosses "would ideally like our formal assent that Adani have responded to the issues raised".
"I gather they'd like it absolutely ASAP," Dr Coram said, adding: "there's clearly quite some urgency around this".
By 2:20pm, Dr Coram's colleague Dr Warwick McDonald had already begun drafting the letter.
Just after 3:00pm, Dr Coram emailed Dr McDonald asking him to examine a few doubts she had about Adani's plans.
Dr McDonald forwarded that to another staff member but indicated that it might be better to not interrogate the plans too much:
"Jane has asked some questions... see below... not sure we should be over-analysing this... for your consideration."
Just after 3:30pm, Dr McDonald wrote to his colleagues saying he had finished drafting the letter that the environment department had requested.
By about 4:00pm, Dr Coram had approved the letter, and at 4:34pm, it was sent to the environment department.
Half an hour later, Dr Coram emailed her colleagues, noting she presumed CSIRO would be asked to comment on the remaining plans Adani needed to produce, but adding:
"Hopefully with a bit more turnaround time."
That afternoon, the chief of staff to Resources Minister Matt Canavan contacted CSIRO and asked for the letter, which was sent to him at exactly 6:00pm.
The very next business day, Monday 8 April, Ms Price approved the plans.
The following day, the approval was announced, and two days later the federal election was called.
Ms Price declined the ABC's request for an interview.
A spokesman for her reiterated that "Geoscience Australia and the CSIRO provided written advice that the revised plans addressed the issues raised".
Adani told the ABC the matter was an issue for the Department of Environment and Energy.
The department did not respond to requests for comment.
The CSIRO declined to comment further.

Links
at No comments:

Torres Strait Islanders Accuse Government Of Human Rights Breach Over Climate Inaction

SBS

Torres Strait Islanders are going to the United Nations to accuse the Morrison government of breaching their human rights over its inaction on climate change.


Rising seas are flooding communities and worsening erosion, causing anxiety for residents

Torres Strait Islanders are accusing the Morrison government of breaching their human rights over its inaction on climate change.
The group, who say they are losing their homes to rising seas, will on Monday lodge an official complaint with the UN Human Rights Committee in Geneva, Switzerland.
Their complaint argues the government's failure to adequately cut emissions and build defences such as sea walls has violated their basic human rights to life and culture.

Environmental law charity ClientEarth is supporting the islanders' action.
It said the complaint will be the first climate change litigation brought against the Australian government, based on human rights.
It's also the first legal action worldwide brought by inhabitants of low-lying islands against a nation state, the charity said.


UN chief says world 'not on track' with climate change

"We're currently seeing the effects of climate change on our islands daily, with rising seas, tidal surges, coastal erosion and inundation of our communities," complainant and Sue Island resident Kabay Tamu said in a statement.
Lead lawyer Sophie Marjanac said the complaint will demonstrate how climate change inaction is violating people's basic rights to live safely and in their ancestral homelands.
"Australia's continued failure to build infrastructure to protect the islands, and to take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, constitutes a clear violation of the islanders' rights to culture, family and life," she said.
Eight islanders from four Torres Strait islands are making the complaint, and have also launched a petition demanding a series of commitments from the government.
They want Australia to stop using and exporting thermal coal for electricity generation and achieve zero net emissions before 2050.
They're also seeking at least $20 million for protective infrastructure such as sea walls and to help islands adapt so they can remain habitable.


Gilmore voters name climate change as key issue in ultra-marginal seat

The Gur A Baradharaw Kod (GBK) Sea and Land Council is the peak native title body for the Torres Strait region.
GBK chairman and Yam Island traditional owner Ned David says the rights of Torres Strait Islanders to their culture, homelands, history and future are on the line.
"The Australian government needs to act, and quickly," he says.
"We extend an invitation to Australia's next Prime Minister, whoever that is after this week's federal election, to visit our islands, see the situation for themselves and commit to protecting First Nation peoples on the climate frontline."


Thousands of students across the country are banding together to demand action on climate change

Links
at No comments: