Mining companies in the northern Australian state of Queensland miners and the environmental lobby group Greenpeace remain at loggerheads over the future of the coal industry.
At the same time it seems neither side has done anything to initiate talks with the other.
The Queensland Resources Council (QRC) says Greenpeace is trying to drive a wedge into coal mining communities, while the activists say miners don?t care about communities who rely on the iconic World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef.
AAP Newsagency reports that in the state capital, Brisbane, about 50 Greenpeace activists dressed as creatures from the reef protested outside a coal mining conference.
They say plans for at least nine new coalmines in central Queensland, showcased at the Galilee Basin Coal Conference, would destroy the reef.
Speaking at the conference, QRC chief executive Michael Roche told miners Greenpeace?s anti-coal campaign would destroy coal mining communities.
?Regional communities understand their long-term prosperity relies on the economic diversity that the minerals and energy sector is delivering,? Mr Roche said.
?Greenpeace have no interest in the future of these communities.?
Greenpeace spokeswoman Louise Matthiesson responded, saying miners were focused only on coal mining communities at the expense of all others.
?There?s a whole string of communities that rely on the Great Barrier Reef for their prosperity, what does the QRC have to say about them?? she asked.
Each group is making claims about the other, but Ms Matthiesson said it was ?fair call? to say neither side had made much effort to talk.
?I think it?s sad that the QRC and Greenpeace are 1000 miles apart on the future of coal,? she said.
?There needs to be some difficult discussions, and I think the time will come,? she added.
Source: http://econews.com.au/news-to-sustain-our-world/greenpeace-coal-miners-remain-at-loggerheads/
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