Australia’s environmental laws are failing to prevent harm, with coal projects routinely approved, breaching conditions, and facing limited enforcement. EnvA is calling for urgent reforms to address cumulative impacts, strengthen compliance, and ensure meaningful protection for climate, water and threatened species.
Category Archives: koalas
Land Court puts climate impacts front and centre in Sonoma coal decision
A landmark Land Court decision on the Sonoma East coal mine expansion has reinforced that climate change impacts human rights, while calling out the proponent’s lack of concrete emissions reduction commitments.
New coal mine proposal fails environmental and climate test
EnvA opposes the proposed Saraji East coal mine due to the unacceptable environmental risks.
The project fails to assess cumulative impacts and would result in significant habitat loss in an already heavily cleared region.
It also depends on unproven water management systems that have recently failed during extreme weather events.
Federal Minister faces test as Hail Creek coal Expansion awaits EPBC decision
The Queensland Government has approved an extension to Glencore’s Hail Creek open cut coal mine, allowing the clearing of hundreds of hectares of koala habitat.
The project now requires federal approval under the EPBC Act.
EnvA is urging the Commonwealth to reject the expansion.
Central Queensland group calls for refusal of Centurion North mine amendment
EnvA has called for the refusal of a major amendment to the Centurion North Mine Environmental Authority, warning that the proposal represents a staged development that should be assessed as part of the full project through a comprehensive Environmental Impact Statement.
EnvA’s submission highlights significant impacts on the environment and incomplete assessments of water and greenhouse gas emissions.
Albanese Government greenlights coal expansion – amid a climate crisis
The Albanese Government has approved the extension of the Middlemount Coal Mine, adding to the 32 fossil fuel projects already approved.
EnvA says the decision makes a mockery of the government’s climate commitments and brings endangered species a step closer to extinction.
Coal mine expansion threatens endangered species, water resources and climate targets
Environmental Advocacy in Central Queensland is calling on the Federal Environment Minister to refuse approval of Glencore’s proposed Hail Creek mine expansion, warning it would cause unacceptable harm to endangered species, water resources and the Great Barrier Reef, while adding millions of tonnes of climate pollution.
EnvA calls for the Federal Government to refuse the Washpool Coking Coal Bulk Sample Project
EnvA has called on the Environment Minister to refuse the Washpool Coking Coal Bulk Sample Project, warning it poses unacceptable risks to threatened species and water resources in the Fitzroy River and Great Barrier Reef catchment.
EnvA says the proposal is part of a staged development that could pave the way for a much larger greenfield coal mine and is urging the Government to refuse the project outright or to require a proper assessment.
Community group warns EPBC reforms must deliver real protection for nature
As the Federal Government rolls out the most significant reforms to Australia’s national environment laws in more than two decades, EnvA says the success of the changes will depend on whether new national standards genuinely prevent further environmental decline.
Coal infrastructure project assessment ignores public input
Public consultation under national environment laws is not a box-ticking exercise. Ignoring community submissions on a controlled action project undermines confidence in the entire environmental approvals system.
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