Conservationists slam Plibersek for 'shameful' coal mine approvals

Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek has extended the lives of three NSW coal mines, sparking fury from environmentalists who say the decision flies in the face of Labor’s climate change promises.

The Minister approved the expansion of three large coal mines in the Hunter Valley and Narrabri regions, granting them up to 40 years of future operations and securing the jobs of more than 1800 miners.

She noted the approvals – for Muswellbrook’s MACH Energy’s Mount Pleasant Optimisation project and Ashton Coal Operations’ Ravensworth Underground Mine, as well as for Whitehaven Coal’s Narrabri Underground Mine Stage 3 Extension Project – were not new projects.

Ms Plibersek said her decisions were made “in accordance with the facts and the national environment law”, as they are for every project.

But climate groups are aghast at the move, saying it will add another 1.3 billion tonnes of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

Greens leader Adam Bandt said the Minister was not doing her job of protecting Australia’s environment.

“Labor approving three more coal projects in the Hunter Valley is a betrayal of everyone who voted for climate action,” he said.

“To have any chance of meeting climate targets, there can be no new coal or gas mines, yet Labor has now approved 26 new coal and gas projects since coming to power. Each one will make the climate crisis worse.

“Emissions are higher under Anthony Albanese than last under Scott Morrison, and now Labor has made the climate crisis even worse.

“You can’t put the fire out if you’re pouring petrol on it.”

The Australia Institute said the approvals are inconsistent with Australia’s climate goals and only serve to reinforce the nation’s reputation as one of the world’s major fossil fuel exporters.

“These are some of the dirtiest, most polluting coal projects seeking approval in Australia right now,” the Australia Institute’s Rod Campbell said.

“Fossil fuel projects like these are driving climate change. The government should level with the people of Australia and declare when their final fossil fuel project approval will be given.

“The fact that these new coal mines can be approved, despite the government’s Safeguard Mechanism being in place, shows just how inadequate the policy is.

“To approve huge new coal mines while bidding to host the world’s major climate conference, COP31, is a slap in the face to our Pacific neighbours who have clearly and repeatedly requested that Australia stop expanding fossil fuel production.”

The Australian Conservation Foundation said approving the mines’ extensions was a disastrous move for the climate and for nature.

“This decision is the opposite of climate action,” ACF climate program manager Gavan McFadzean said.

“Together, these coal mines will generate more than 1.3 billion tonnes of lifetime emissions which will undermine Australia reaching net zero by 2050.

“It is grossly irresponsible to be approving coal mines when global scientists and the International Energy Agency have repeated calls for no new coal and gas projects if we have any chance of having a safe climate.

“The Albanese government came to office promising to be champions for climate action, but it continues to disappoint.

“It is insincere to pursue clean export projects through the Future Made in Australia policy while also approving major coal projects.

“This is not a good look ahead of the government’s Global Nature Positive summit, which gets underway in early October.

“Whitehaven’s Narrabri coal mine alone threatens several iconic and threatened species such as the Regent Honeyeater, Koala, Pilliga mouse and Corben Long-eared bat.

“Climate damage is here now, and Australia’s unique and precious nature is suffering the consequences.

“Coal is fuelling the climate crisis that causes extreme weather like bushfires and floods.

“These approvals will have consequences for everyday Australians who are forced to live on the forefront of climate damage.”

The Narrabri and Mount Pleasant projects will focus on thermal coal for export and burning in power stations.

Lock the Gate Alliance spokesperson Carmel Flint said the Federal Labor Government had revealed its “reckless disregard” for the extinction of Australian wildlife and the effects of catastrophic climate change on all Australians.

“We are shocked that a government that came to power promising to halt extinction and act on climate change has sunk so low,” she said.

“It is shameful that a government supposedly committed to net zero emissions by 2050 has approved thermal coal mines, the most polluting fossil fuel on the planet, to operate until 2058, 2064 and 2066.

“Australians will pay the price of this decision for generations to come.

“Minister Plibersek is holding a so-called Global Nature Positive Conference in just two weeks in Sydney, but she’s sent nature into a devastating negative spiral with these three approvals.”