The Wangan and Jagalingou (W&J) people have lodged an appeal with the Federal Court, saying that the mining leases announced last week "were not properly issued".
The Queensland government approved three leases last week for Indian company Adani to build the coal mine and rail project in central Queensland.
The area is estimated to contain 11 billion tonnes of thermal coal. The leases allow mining and the development of infrastructure such as haul roads, buildings, workshops, power lines, workers’ camp and pipelines, the Queensland government said.
The statement from the W&J people said the leases were issued "in the absence of the consent of the W&J people". The group also cited an October 2015 letter from Australian mines minister Anthony Lynham in which he said he ‘[did] not intend to issue’ Carmichael mining leases until after the resolution of a judicial review of the decision of the Native Title Tribunal. The review is still awaiting a judgment, the W&J people said.
Adani has said the mine, rail and port project will generate more than 5000 jobs at the peak of construction and more than 4500 jobs at the peak of operations.
