Federal environment Minister approves another CQ coal mine

Environmental Advocacy in Central Queensland (EnvA) condemns Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek’s decision to approve the expansion of Idemitsu’s Ensham coal mine near Emerald.

The mine proposes to extract 38 million tonnes of thermal coal between 2028 and 2037, and will be responsible for over 100 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions over the life of the mine.

Minister Plibersek’s approval of the expansion comes shortly after the Queensland Palaszczuk Government granted an environmental authority to the project. 

The mining lease application is still being assessed by the Queensland government. EnvA has submitted an objection to the granting of the mining lease on the grounds that the environmental impacts will be significant and can’t be justified for yet another thermal coal mine in the Bowen Basin.

EnvA Director, Dr Coral Rowston said, “The Australian Government’s hypocrisy is clear – Ministers talk about transitioning away from fossil fuels to meet emission reduction targets, while at the same time approving new coal and gas projects.

“This is the second Central Queensland coal mine approved since the election of our ‘climate conscious’ government last year.

“We sometimes get fed the line that we still need metallurgical coal for steel making, but this is thermal coal which really can’t be justified if Australia is serious about reducing emissions.

“The whole world is in the middle of a climate crisis, but yet Minister Plibersek has given permission to mine thermal coal which will be responsible for more 100 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions and seriously impact on Central Queensland’s environment.

“Extending the Ensham coal mine will impact local landholders, the water quality flowing into the Great Barrier Reef, and our precious native wildlife, like the koala.

“If our State and federal governments continue to approve new fossil fuel projects, our community can’t start the transition to a new economy and our environment will continue to be destroyed.”

“Minister Plibersek’s latest coal mine approval highlights the urgent need for a legislated climate trigger. The “safeguard mechanism” is obviously not the solution we need.

“The burning of fossil fuels like coal is putting humanity on a fast track to climate catastrophe.  Decision makers need to face up to the facts that approvals like this contribute to dangerous climate change and will negate any advances that Australia has made in representing us to the world as responsible in seriously addressing climate change.”