Lock the Gate Alliance, climate groups call on Tanya Plibersek to stop new mines

Environmental groups have warned the environment minister that Australia can have new coal projects, or koalas. See the petition.

Environmental groups have warned the Federal Environment Minister that Australia can have new coal projects or koalas, which were recently nominated as the 2032 Brisbane Olympics mascot.

Climate advocates have banded together to beg Tanya Plibersek for “koalas not coal” after a new study revealed new mines and expansions threatened thousands of hectares of habitat.

A joint letter signed by more than 50 climate groups across Queensland and Australia follows a new CQUniversity study revealing 42,500ha of koala habitat at risk due to new or expanding coal leases.

The study, titled Mapping Koala Habitat Mapping Koala Habitat Disturbance in the Bowen Basin Queensland, was funded by Lock the Gate Alliance and brokered by Environmental Advocacy – Central Queensland.

Lock the Gate Alliance national coordinator Ellen Roberts said Ms Plibersek “needs to realise Australia can have koalas, or it can have new coal projects, it can’t have both”.

“It’s a sad irony that the koala has been nominated as a mascot for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics as the government hastens this iconic species’ demise by allowing the construction of new, polluting coal projects,” Ms Roberts said.

Koala rescued from Townsville at JCU emergency vet.

The letter advocates for an immediate moratorium on habitat clearing, claiming Whitehaven coal’s Blackwater South project, Vitrinite’s Vulcan South project and Glencore’s Hail Creek project would affect a total of 8,370ha of habitat in Queensland.

Glencore’s Hail Creek environmental report for the Hail Creek extension request, dated January 2024, notes of impacts to just under 600ha of koala habitat within the study area. Disruption to breeding, feeding and resting sites were ‘unavoidable’ for this species, the report stated.

The report also includes Glencore’s plans for reducing impact to the species.

“If koalas are observed during clearing, a 20m buffer will be placed around the koala,” the proposal states.

“Clearing will not proceed in this buffer until the koala has moved away on its own accord.”

Fifty-five climate and environmental advocacy groups signed on to also call for an end to biodiversity offsets that enable habitat destruction and commit to a “rapid phrase out” of fossil fuels.

Those groups included the Australia Institute, Queensland Conservation Council, Mackay Conservation Group, and more.

Nature Conservation Council CEO Jacqui Mumford said Australia leads the world in mammal extinctions and iconic species could be lost without action.

Queensland Conservation Council campaigner Ben Pennings said “Tanya Plibersek’s job is to protect endangered koalas, not approve the destruction of their homes for unnecessary coal projects.”

Minister for the Environment and Water Tanya Plibersek during Question Time at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Ms Plibersek said projects were considered on a case-by-case basis, while the Albanese government had spent over $70 million to “make sure out kids and grandkids can see koalas in the wild too”.

“I have rejected a Queensland coal project due to potential impacts on the environment and I have given the green light to nearly 50 renewable energy projects to reduce carbon emissions,” she added.

Queensland Environment Minister Leanne Linard said approval conditions like environmental offsets, where set by the independent regulator, could not be avoided.

She said the state government was supportive of resources projects if they “stack up environmentally, socially and financially”.

Originally published as Lock the Gate Alliance, climate groups call on Tanya Plibersek to stop new mines