A PETITION calling for the Queensland government to block Australia's largest coal mine has picked up more than 80,000 supporters as the mine's proponent faces a separate court challenge against the mine.
The Wangan and Jagalingou people last month rejected an Indigenous Land Use Agreement with Indian mining giant Adani, which plans to build the massive Carmichael coal mine in central Queensland.
Spokesman Adrian Burragubba started a petition on March 26, the same day his people presented a Defence of Country Declaration to the Speaker of the Queensland Parliament Peter Wellington.
On Wednesday afternoon that online petition had more than 87,000 signatures.
Meanwhile, Adani has started proceedings in the National Native Title Tribunal (NNTT) to try to push the mine ahead.
Mr Burragubba said he wanted people from all across Australia and "right around the world" to side with his people in their fight.
"There's the environment and the ecosystem that's in danger of being destroyed beyond repair but it's our law and customs that's always remained intact," he said.
"We are the original people from there and our laws and customs are still the the same.
"We rely upon the land animals and the water to stay intact for our dreaming stories to continue."
But Adani says Mr Burragubba is not authorised to speak on behalf of the Wangan and Jagalingou people.
"Adani is aware of at least one instance where the authorised majority of the W&J applicant instructed that the NNTT should disregard an individual statement of one of its group because there had been a unanimous decision not to make a submission on two of Adani's mining lease applications," a spokesman said.
He said Adani did not believe the Wangan and Jagalingou people were opposed to the mine because they continued to be "actively involved in negotiations around delivery of the mine".
In response, the Wangan and Jagalingou Traditional Owners Family Council issued a statement saying Mr Burragubba was "authorised to speak on their behalf about their opposition to the mine and their determination to protect their land and their culture".
"At no time has the Wangan and Jagalingou people consented to a mining lease or the surrender of their native title to Adani Mining," the statement read.
"It is not for Adani to say who should speak on behalf of W&J."
The Wangan and Jagalingou people's native title claim for the area to be occupied by the Carmichael mine overlaps with a claim from the Bidjara people.
A spokeswoman for Minister for Natural Resources and Mines Dr Anthony Lynham said the NNTT was making a determination about the granting of the mining leases at the same time as they were being objected to in the Queensland Land Court.
"Should the NNTT determine that native title has been addressed, the mining leases can proceed to the next approval stage," she said.
Adani is facing strong opposition to its Carmichael mine on several fronts, with at least four separate cases before the courts.
A case brought against it by conservation group Coast and Country is ongoing and set down for five weeks in the Queensland Land Court.
The company says the mine, which will be one of the biggest in the world, will generate 10,000 jobs and $22 billion in taxes and royalties.
Information, training and recruitment agency iMINCO, is advertising expressions of interest for 5,000 mining construction jobs and more than 4,000 mining jobs once the mine is operational.
Fairfax Media understands iMINCO does not have a commercial relationship with Adani.
