As Queensland communities begin to recover from devastating flood events, environment groups have slammed the Albanese government for approving another open cut coal mine expansion in central Queensland this week.
Yancoal and Peabody’s Middlemount coal mine expansion has been given the greenlight by Environment Minister Murray Watt to clear over 183 hectares of koala habitat and 82ha of greater glider habitat. The project will extend an open cut pit and divert a section of Roper Creek that provides an important corridor for koalas, greater gliders and other native animals. The approval decision and conditions are available here.
The project extends the life of the mine for an additional 7 years, from 2037 until 2044 and will extract an additional 112 million tonnes of mostly PCI coal that can be sold into thermal or metallurgical coal markets.
The project will produce 236 million tonnes of climate pollution, equivalent to more than half of Australia’s annual domestic emissions from all sources in 2024-25 (440.2 million tonnes) and 1200 times more than the annual emissions of Vanuatu (197,079 tonnes).
This is the second coal mining project to be approved by the Albanese government this year, after an extension to the Meandu Mine, that supplies coal to the Tarong power station, was granted in January this year. The Albanese government has approved 33 new coal and gas projects since they were elected in 2022.
Images and footage of proposed extension area and Roper Creek are here
Central Queensland coordinator for Lock The Gate, Dr Claire Gronow says: "The Albanese government is in climate denial. You cannot take meaningful action on climate change while approving new sources of climate pollution. With every new or expanded coal mine they approve, the Albanese government is burning our future and burning their own credibility. Now is the time to be implementing an orderly transition away from coal, not approving massive expansions.
"Environment Minister Murray Watt likes to talk about cracking down on land clearing and environmental laws that will protect endangered wildlife habitat, but then he uses those same laws to approve a coal mine to destroy koala and greater glider habitat. The hypocrisy is staggering."
Queensland Conservation Council Campaigner, Ms Charlie Cox says: "This is the second coal project in Queensland that the Albanese government has approved this year, all while much of our state is in the midst of yet another flood clean up. The science is unwavering - digging and burning coal is fundamentally changing our climate, driving more frequent rain events and flooding. Allowing Yancoal to extract and export another 236 million tonnes of climate pollution tells Queenslanders the Albanese Government does not care about our safety, our health, or our cost of living."
Statement from Mackay Conservation Group Campaigner, Imogen Lindenberg says: "The Albanese government is hammering another nail in the coffin of regional Queensland by approving yet another coal mine. We are on the frontline of climate induced extreme weather, which is caused by the mining and burning of fossil fuels and is wreaking havoc on communities and ecosystems. Regional Queenslanders deserve a plan for a sustainable economy that protects both people and nature, not more destructive coal mines."
Background on Albanese government's climate policies:
Just one week before Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was elected in 2022, he said he wanted his legacy to be climate action. But since becoming Prime Minister Albanese’s government has approved 33 new coal and gas projects.
The Climate Council estimates that lifetime pollution from these coal and gas projects is expected to exceed 6.5 billion tonnes of CO2-e. That’s equivalent to about one-eighth of global annual emissions, about 15 years of Australia’s current emissions, or 159 years of the emissions from all of Australia’s cars and utes.
Australia recently signed the Belem declaration, at the COP 30 UN Climate talks in Brazil. The declaration commits countries to a “just, orderly and equitable” transition away from coal and gas, consistent with limiting average global heating to 1.5C. However, just days after Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen signed Australia up to the declaration, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese doubled down on his government's support for new fossil fuel projects.
Despite the Albanese government’s rhetoric on climate action and commitment to join with hundreds of other countries who have agreed to phase out fossil fuels, the Albanese government is continuing to approve coal mine expansions.
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Media info
Emma Barrett, Coordinator, Mackay Conservation Group
0402 966 560