Miners fear Tanya Plibersek’s Green plan could delay Chris Bowen’s energy revolution

The mining industry is building up a revolt against Tanya Plibersek’s Nature Positive Plan with some of the sector’s biggest names expressing fears it could delay clean energy plans.

The mining sector is up in arms about Tanya Plibersek’s nature positive plan with claims it will derail mining projects and halt the government’s own clean energy revolution. Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek is seeking to push forward a raft of changes in Australia’s current environment protection laws, as part of the government’s nature positive plan. 

The draft changes are currently being discussed with a select list of stakeholders in confidential briefings but no public consultation has taken place so far.

The proposed changes have prompted concerns from the Minerals Council with the federal arm saying the laws could delay the mining of critical minerals needed for Chris Bowen’s clean energy revolution while the state body claims it will add even more red tape to state government approved mining projects.

Minister for Environment and Water Tanya Plibersek. Picture: Martin Ollman

Minerals Council of Australia boss Tania Constable has flagged that the laws could also “put a handbrake” on the production of critical minerals required for Australia’s transition to clean energy. Many clean energy sources require critical minerals like cobalt, nickel, lithium and copper to be mined. 

It comes after Gina Rinehart’s right hand man Hancock Agriculture boss Adam Giles likened the plans to Western Australia’s disastrous Indigenous heritage laws and blasted Ms Plibersek for running the meetings behind closed doors and without input from everyday farmers and smaller operators. 

“Any substantial delays on approvals of those critical mineral assets will slow down the nation’s transition to Net Zero,” Ms Constable said.

Minerals Council of Australia Chief Executive Officer Tania Constable. Picture: Martin Ollman

“We need those critical minerals out of the ground, given they form major components of the renewable energy infrastructure that will take us to Net Zero.”

 NSW Minerals Council chief executive Stephen Galilee said NSW-based projects were “routinely” delayed by additional federal requirements. 

“Any government serious about supporting more critical minerals and metals projects in particular will focus on shorter assessment time frames, and an end to the endless legal challenges and delays,” he said.

Ms Plibersek said she will take “everyone’s feedback into account” and the government was working “methodically” to balance the needs of business and nature.

“The Minerals Council themselves say “ … action is needed to fix inefficient and ineffective laws which are delaying major resource projects and failing to protect the environment” (Tania Constable). We agree with them,” she said.

“As I’ve said from the very beginning, updating Australia’s environment laws will require co-operation, compromise, and common sense from everyone. That includes consulting carefully with environment groups, mining companies, and other businesses on all the details.”

In Question Time on Wednesday, Ms Plibersek said the rollout of clean energy was “proceeding at pace” adding that the government had approved 45 renewable projects since coming to power with another 128 awaiting her rubber stamp.

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