NSW religious leaders join Adani protests

Religious leaders have spent the day outside Commonwealth Bank Sydney headquarters to protest funding for the Adani Carmichael coal mine.

Commonwealth Bank signage at their Sydney offices

Religious leaders have protested against the Adani mine at Commonwealth Bank's Sydney headquarters. (AAP)

Religious leaders have camped out at Commonwealth Bank's Sydney headquarters to protest the proposed Adani mega coal mine in Queensland.

Ten Buddhist and Christian leaders rallied inside the Darling Harbour office on Monday holding signs with messages including "People of faith say rule out Adani" and "Grandpa what did you do about global warming?"

More supporters gathered outside.

The protest comes ahead of the bank's board meeting on June 13 when it will decide whether to fund coal projects including Adani's Carmichael mine.

Uniting Church Minister Rex Graham said the group was opposed to the expansion of coal mines in Australia.

"The other banks have heard the message, particularly National Australian Bank and Westpac, and that's what we're looking for the Commonwealth Bank to also do," he told AAP.

Commonwealth Bank quit an advisory role on the Adani project in August 2015 but hasn't followed other banks in ruling out financing the mega mine.

The bank on Monday said people had the right "to express their views in a peaceful manner".

The Commonwealth Bank supported "nearly every sector in the economy," a spokesperson told AAP on Monday.

"(But) we will only fund projects that meet our strict environmental, social and governance standards."

A Stop Adani spokesman later told AAP he was sceptical of that claim, however, given the bank had given millions of dollars to Adani over the years.

The Indian miner last week accepted the Queensland government's royalties deal for its $16 billion coal mine in the Galilee Basin although the details won't be released due to commercial-in-confidence.


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2 min read
Published 5 June 2017 7:34pm
Source: AAP


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