The Vulcan South coal mine is moving closer and closer to a final approval decision from the Albanese government, despite being under criminal investigation for illegal clearing of koala habitat, and mining coal without federal approval.
You can take action - share our new video and tag Albo @alboMP and Plibersek @tanyaplibersek to keep the pressure up. The government must reject this disastrous, koala-killing coal mine.
Vitrinite’s Vulcan south coal mine is planning to destroy over 1,000 hectares of koala and greater glider habitat. Prior to a final decision being made on the new coal mine, Vitrinite started digging a ‘test’ coal mine and cleared at least 47 hectares of koala habitat without federal environmental approval.
Despite commencing a criminal investigation, the federal environment department has refused to stop Vitrinite from continuing to mine coal without federal approval. The department told a Senate hearing they may grant approval to the coal mine before they’ve completed the criminal investigation.
Even though Vitrinite’s Vulcan South coal mine is under criminal investigation, the project is progressing through the approval process. Just last Wednesday the EPBC website showed the final recommendation report is ready. Coal companies like Vitrinite are making a mockery of our environmental laws and the Albanese government needs to stand up to them and hold them to account. Approving a coal mine that is under criminal investigation for illegal clearing sends a message that coal companies can break environment laws without consequences. Australia’s environment laws aren’t protecting the environment, they’re protecting the profits of coal corporations.
But this isn't the only new coal mine being considered right now for approval. Three other new coal mines and expansions could also be approved any day now.
The Albanese government recently refused to assess the climate harm of three new coal mine extensions, Idemitsu’s Boggabri mine, BHP’s Caval Ridge mine and Jelinbah’s Lake Vermont Meadowbrook mine. The approval of these coal extensions is now imminent, with a decision expected to be buried under the cover of the Christmas break. If approved these three mines would add 850 million tonnes of carbon emissions to the atmosphere.
The two biggest threats to the koala are habitat loss and climate change. The Albanese government must stand up for nature and climate by ending all new coal projects and expansions, starting with Vitrinite’s Vulcan South coal mine.
