Response to misleading and inaccurate claims in BBC World Service documentary

On 21 June 2025, the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) World Service published false and misleading claims from compromised sources about groundwater and the Doongmabulla springs, cultural heritage protections, and the safety record and standards at the Carmichael mine.

We stand by our world-class groundwater monitoring, modelling, and reporting program and our work with the Wangan and Jagalingou people and the Traditional Owners’ Cultural Heritage Committee to protect and celebrate cultural heritage at Carmichael.

We are also proud of the workplace health and safety systems, procedures, and training we and our contracting partners have in place to keep every person who works at or visits our mine safe.

Below is the statement provided to the BBC in response to their inquiries prior to publication of the documentary.

You can find more information about our groundwater monitoring program here; the cultural heritage processes here; and health, safety and wellbeing at Carmichael here.

The following is attributable to a Bravus Mining and Resources spokesperson:

Statement from Bravus Mining and Resources in response to questions from the BBC World Service Group:

USING BEST PRACTICE SCIENCE TO PROTECT THE DOONGMABULLA SPRINGS COMPLEX

There have been no exceedances or breaches of our groundwater conditions and the Doongmabulla springs complex is not at risk from any of the mining we are doing now, or any of the mining we are authorised do in the future.

The Queensland Government regulator has publicly confirmed there is no evidence of any harm to the Doongmabulla springs complex from Bravus Mining and Resources’ open cut mining operations.

The feedback from the Australian Government science agency the CSIRO has been misused by the sources the BBC has relied on for this story. The CSIRO’s feedback relates to methods used for long-term modelling, not on-the-ground mining activity.

The Carmichael mine has some of the strictest environmental conditions of any resources project in Australia’s history and we’re proud to comply with those approvals.

The boundary of the Doongmabulla springs complex is more than eight kilometres from the Carmichael mine boundary and 11 kilometres from any mine activity.

Groundwater monitoring is conducted every two months to observe and record water levels and water quality at more than 135 sites around the Carmichael mine, and this program has measured more than two million* data points since 2012.

Our environmental team and research scientist partners work with neighbouring landholders, Traditional Owners, and regulators to perform the real-time and on-the-ground monitoring required to deliver this comprehensive program.

Our groundwater program uses highly sensitive early warning triggers to detect small changes in groundwater levels that are then investigated. These triggers are not exceedances, and none have been related to mining activity.

The information gathered is reported to regulators and made available on our website and this scientific evidence shows we are fully compliant with our environmental approvals.

Contrary to the BBC’s claim, we have not made any accusations about scientists, we have simply highlighted publicly disclosed information about their work to oppose mining activity in Australia. We believe this is in the public interest.

Mischievous claims of hydrocarbons in the springs are false. Any trace elements detected are due to tiny amounts of drilling lubricants from when the monitoring borehole was dug. This is the same process used to drill any domestic water bore and it is not harmful to the environment.

*Total is 2,196,291 data points measured

KEEPING OUR PEOPLE SAFE AT THE CARMICHAEL MINE

We are disappointed the BBC has relied on sources aligned with the union movement whose motivation is to smear our business as part of a campaign to achieve greater union powers on all Australian mine sites. We respect the right of all Australian workers to choose union membership.

We have a zero-fatality record and that is not something we will ever take for granted because making sure our people go home safely to their families is our number one priority.

The Queensland Government regulator, Resources Safety and Health Queensland, has publicly said Carmichael’s record across all safety measures is on par with others in the industry. Queensland’s workplace health and safety laws are among the strictest in the world.

We are proud of the workplace health and safety systems, procedures, and training we and our contracting partners have in place to keep every person who works at or visits our mine safe and we comply with all state and federal legislation.

We actively encourage people employed at Carmichael to come forward either in person or anonymously and use any of the multiple channels available to them to raise concerns or provide feedback, and these are resolved as they arise.

We actively track our safety performance, and if a safety risk is identified, we take active measures to eliminate or minimise it by changing work procedures, equipment or adopting new technology.

WORKING WITH TRADITIONAL OWNERS TO PROTECT CULTURAL HERITAGE

Bravus Mining and Resources is compliant with the various agreements we have with Traditional Owners, and we are proud of the employment and business opportunities our mine is providing to them and other First Nations people. Claims that we are not are false.

All land disturbance at the Carmichael mine is done in conjunction with the Cultural Heritage Committee, which is Chaired by a Wangan and Jangalingou Elder and has five other Traditional Owners on it. This committee plays a central role in ensuring cultural heritage is identified, managed, and protected in accordance with applicable law and cultural protocols

It’s clear from the questions put to us by the BBC about the Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA) that they have not engaged with representatives of the majority Traditional Owner group that are the authority on matters related to the Doongmabulla springs complex, the ILUA, and cultural heritage management at the Carmichael mine.

It is disappointing and disrespectful of Indigenous culture for the BBC to have instead relied upon the views of one family group who do not speak for all Wangan and Jangalingou people.

Cultural heritage works at Carmichael are managed according to the legally binding agreements in place between Bravus Mining and Resources and the Clermont Belyando (formerly known as the Wangan & Jagalingou) people.

The Elders who make up the Cultural Heritage Committee are the First Nations authority on cultural heritage matters at the Carmichael mine.

The Committee both approves cultural heritage clearance works and appoints one or more of the 70 Traditional Owners who perform and monitor these activities at the mine.

(ENDS)

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