The Greens have called on Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek to reject a koala-killing coal mine which would destroy thousands of hectares of precious forest habitat, crucial for endangered koalas and other wildlife.
The Vulcan South project is now on Minister Plibersek’s desk following today’s approval from the Queensland Government. Labor claims it wants to fix Australia’s broken environment law this year, but is yet to back calls for a ban on native forest logging and new coal & gas projects.
Senator Sarah Hanson-Young is Greens Environment Spokesperson and Manager of Business for the Greens in the Senate:
“This project is a koala killer and a climate cooker: Minister Plibersek must block it and commit to fixing Australia’s broken environment laws to stop the extinction and climate crisis.
“Thousands of hectares of endangered wildlife habitat now hang in the balance. Labor must chose koalas over coal and reject this mega mine. It will not only cook our climate but fuel the extinction crisis and the survival of endangered wildlife.
“It is unacceptable that the Queensland Government did not undertake environmental assessment before approving this coal mine. Every tonne of coal mined and every tree cleared puts wildlife on the frontline of the climate crisis.
“This year will be a crucial test for the Albanese Government: will they work with the Greens to fix our broken environment laws to ban native forest logging or will they continue to approve deadly projects for their fossil fuel donors?”
