By Melanie Burton
MELBOURNE (Reuters) – India’s Adani Group, whose billionaire chairman has been charged by U.S. prosecutors with fraud, is facing allegations of racism at its Australian coal plant after an Aboriginal group filed a complaint with the country’s Human Rights Commission.
The Nagana Yarrbayn Wangan & Jagalingou Cultural Custodians in Queensland state said they had filed a complaint earlier this week alleging serious racial discrimination by the Bravus Mining and Resources unit.
The complaint describes how Adani employees sought to “verbally and physically hinder and prevent” members of the Aboriginal group from accessing resources near Adani’s Carmichael Coal Mine “to perform cultural rituals and share cultural knowledge,” the group said in a statement.
“We have faced discrimination and defamation by Adani for years, and we will not tolerate this anymore,” Nagana Yarrbayn Senior Cultural Custodian Adrian Burragubba said in the statement.
“Adani has been aware of their behavior since our lawyers sent a concern notice last year and they refused to take action. Legal action is the only solution,” he added.
A Bravus spokesperson “completely rejected” the group’s allegations, saying it was an attempt to prevent Bravus from telling his side of the story and “sharing facts with the public about our interactions with him and members of his ‘Family Council’.”
It said the mine has been operating safely and responsibly for more than two years in accordance with the laws of Queensland and Australia and in partnership with the majority group of traditional owners for the mine area under the terms of ratified Indigenous land use agreements and cultural heritage management plans.
The country has not received any notice of complaint from the Australian Human Rights Commission, it added.
A spokesperson said the Commission cannot confirm whether a complaint has been received until it has been publicly acknowledged by both the complainant and the respondent.
The Aboriginal group said it was seeking compensation, an apology, removal of offensive social media, retraction of media statements and anti-racism and cultural awareness training for Adani’s directors, managers and employees.
The Carmichael Coal Mine endured a seven-year campaign by climate activists and some Aboriginal groups before shipping its first load in December 2021.
Shares of Adani Group companies fell for a second straight day on Friday after US prosecutors charged Chairman Gautam Adani with alleged bribery and fraud.
(Reporting by Melanie Burton; Editing by Lincoln Feast.)
