Coal Giant Adani Allegedly Dodges $400M in Queensland + The Karen Economy: How Australians Police Each Other for Corporate Profit + 🍽️ The Punters Political Fundraiser
Coal Giant Adani Allegedly Dodges $400M in Queensland Royalties Through Below-Market Sales
THE SCAM: Adani allegedly sold coal at $102 per tonne when market prices hit $600 during the Ukraine war, potentially using below-market transfers to dodge Queensland's progressive royalty system.
THE DAMAGE: Queenslanders missed out on $400 million in royalties - money that could have funded Olympic infrastructure for Brisbane 2032.
THE OUTCOME: Labor launched court action to recover the funds. The new Liberal National government under Premier David Crisafulli immediately dropped the case, letting Adani keep the disputed money.
Punter Citations:
The Guardian - Adani denies claims it sold ‘below-market coal’ leading to Queensland missing out on hundreds of millions in royalties
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The Karen Economy: How Australians Police Each Other for Corporate Profit
THE SCAM: Foreign-owned toll giant TransUrban collected $11 billion in revenue from privatised public roads over five years while paying zero tax through complex "stapled security trust" structures that shift profits offshore.
THE DAMAGE: Australians pay twice - once through regular taxes, then again through tolls that can cost Western Sydney families $6,000 annually. Poor communities bear the burden while wealthy inner-city residents avoid toll roads entirely.
THE COVER-UP: Government contracts lock in annual toll increases of 4% or inflation (whichever is higher), guaranteeing rising costs. Victoria even uses state police to enforce private toll fines, turning public law enforcement into corporate debt collectors.
Punter Citations:
The Conversation - Private toll roads are supposed to save taxpayers’ money, but can have these hidden costs
Michael West - Tollroad giant Transurban paid tax! Why? What’s the scam?
THE MISSION: Lobbyists in Parliament House outnumber politicians 3 to 1. So we're hosting our own political fundraising dinner to expose the "cash for access" system where corporations buy influence with politicians. At our dinner everyday Punters get access to their representatives.
THE UPDATE:
We have a headline sponsor! The Punters Political Fundraising Dinner is now brought to you by...
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COMPETITION
Courtesy of Heaps Normal you can WIN the last tickets to the Punters dinner!
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Prize Winner: 2x Punters Fundraiser Dinner Tickets, 6pm-10.30pm on November 4. Location: QT HOTEL CANBERRA + a QT Canberra Night Stay (King Room & Breakfast for 2 included, 4th-5th November).
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Runner Up: 2x Punters Fundraiser Dinner Tickets, 6pm-10.30pm on November 4. Location: QT HOTEL CANBERRA.
- To enter, tag your mate below on THIS instagram reel - easy as!
Entries close 30/10/2025 at 11.59pm AEST. Winner randomly drawn on 31/10/2025 and contacted via Instagram DMs.
Plus check our other sponsors this week:
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