The Australian Greens have said Labor has again capitulated to the big corporations after the federal government refused requests to consider the climate impacts of three proposed coal mining projects.
The ‘reconsideration requests’ were made by the Environment Council of Central Queensland, represented by lawyers from Environmental Justice Australia. However, it was revealed today that the government has rejected those requests.
The three proposed coal mine projects – Boggabri, Caval Ridge and Lake Vermont Meadowbrook – will now await a final decision by the government without a prior assessment of their climate harm.
The refusal to assess climate risk comes a week after Labor caved to big mining corporations and refused to agree with the Greens on laws to protect nature and forests.
The Greens say Labor must reject these projects if it is serious about climate change.
If the three projects are approved, Idemitsu’s Boggabri coal project in NSW would produce 242.86 million tonnes of carbon emissions, BHP Mitsubishi’s Caval Ridge coal project in central Queensland would produce 473 million tonnes, and Jellinbah Group’s Lake Vermont coal project in Queensland would produce 347 million tonnes.
Leader of the Australian Greens, Adam Bandt MP:
“Twice in two weeks, Labor is doing the bidding of the coal and gas corporations.
“Emissions are higher under Anthony Albanese than Scott Morrison, Labor has approved 28 new coal and gas projects since coming to power, and the government has pushed setting 2035 climate targets back until after the next election.
“Scientists say new coal and gas must be stopped to protect Australia from dangerous climate change. Pacific leaders are demanding Australia stop approving new coal and gas to give their islands a fighting chance.
“Labor is too afraid to stare down the coal billionaires and polluters, and as a result climate pollution is up, new coal and gas mines are getting approved and our communities are at risk from worsening fires, floods, and extreme weather.
“Anthony Albanese and Tanya Plibersek must immediately reject these three new coal projects.”
Senator Sarah Hanson-Young is Greens spokesperson for the Environment & Senator for South Australia:
“This is the latest reminder that Labor has failed to fix Australia’s broken environment laws
“The Environment Minister’s job is to protect the environment, not cave in to the fossil fuel and logging lobby. The Albanese Government should reject these coal mines and work with the Greens to fix our broken environment laws.
“A climate trigger and an end to native forest logging is desperately needed if we are to stop the worst impacts of the climate crisis.
“The Greens will make this election a referendum on nature and a rejection of the coal and gas lobby.”