A Central Queensland conservation group has challenged the accuracy of Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek’s recent social media statement, in which she claims, “We’ve just cancelled another coal project in Queensland.”
Tanya Plibersek’s Facebook post, 17 January 2025
The ‘cancelled’ coal mine is Walton Coal Pty Ltd’s proposed Walton Coal mine near Dingo in the Bowen Basin, south of Taunton National Park. Taunton was designated as a National Park (Scientific) specifically to protect the only naturally occurring population of bridled nail-tail wallabies in Australia.
The Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Act public portal has now been updated to indicate that the project has lapsed, and a notice of the lapse published. However, the facts reveal a different story.
On 3 May 2022, Walton Coal formally withdrew its application which was to be assessed under bilateral agreement between the Queensland and Federal governments.
Environmental Advocacy in Central Queensland Director, Dr Coral Rowston, criticised the Minister’s claim and said:
“It is disappointing that our Federal Environment Minister iis misleading the public about her involvement in ‘cancelling’ a coal mine.
“Walton Coal withdrew its application well before Tanya became Minister, so taking credit for this is misleading.
“This appears to be an attempt to bolster her image as a protector of threatened species and an advocate against extinctions.”
Dr. Rowston further highlighted a pattern of misinformation from the current government:
“We have seen repeated claims of positive environmental outcomes that don’t align with reality.
“Just before Christmas, the Minister claimed that no new coal mines were approved in 2024 and she compared this to the eight approvals by the previous government in 2014. Yet six coal projects were greenlit under her watch last year, with another pending formal approval.
“Claiming to be cancelling a coal mine is a poor attempt at covering up the negative consequences of the eleven coal projects she has approved as Environment Minister.”
Is this a reprieve for the critically endangered bridled nail-tail wallaby?
Following the withdrawal of Walton Coal’s EIS application, Magnetic South purchased the Walton Coal mine. Magnetic South are currently progressing the adjacent Gemini Coal Project which also poses significant threats to bridled nail-tail wallaby habitat and the habitat of other threatened species.
Despite Magnetic South’s need for further approvals for the Gemini Coal mine, the company has announced its ambitious plans to revive exploration and assessment of the coal resources at the Walton Coal site.
A consortium of conservation groups wrote to Minister Plibersek in relation to the lack of referral of the Gemini project for assessment under the EPBC Act in November 2022. The correspondence noted that the Gemini Coal project borders Taunton National Park, a protected area created specifically to protect the endangered bridled nail-tail wallaby.
The response from the Minister’s department noted that “The department has been made aware of the proposed Gemini Coal Project near Dingo. This proposal is currently being reviewed by the department to determine if referral and approval is required before it can proceed.”
However, to date, the Minister has not exercised her powers to call in the Gemini Project for a thorough assessment.
“Sadly, Tanya is not serious about protecting the critically endangered bridled nail-tail wallaby or any other threatened species. If she were, she would immediately call in the Gemini Project for a rigorous assessment.
“The Gemini coal project will disturb nearly 2000ha of land, with the potential for this mine to also extend into the Walton Coal area. With no Environmental Impact Assessment, we have no idea of the impacts of this mine and any future extensions on our threatened wildlife”, said Dr Rowston.
Call for Accountability
Dr. Rowston emphasised the need for transparency and accountability from political leaders:
“Australians don’t need spin from politicians. We need them to perform their duties transparently and prioritise the protection of our unique environment.
“The critically endangered bridled nail-tail wallaby and other threatened species deserve genuine action, not misleading claims.”
EnvA - CQ 