This week the Conservation Council joined with community members for a snap action outside the office of Federal Member for Canberra, Alicia Payne, asking her to stand up for our climate and environment.
Over the past two weeks the Federal ALP have once again betrayed our community on core environmental issues. Last week there were reports that the Federal Labor Government are on the verge of approving the expansion of three massive coal mines. If they go ahead, these three coal projects – called Boggabri, Caval Ridge and Lake Vermont – will cause over one billion tonnes of carbon pollution. That’s more than double all of Australia’s annual emissions. Approving new fossil fuel projects in 2024 is climate denial. There can be no new coal mines if we are to avoid the worst of climate collapse.
Over the past two weeks the Federal ALP have once again betrayed our community on core environmental issues. Last week there were reports that the Federal Labor Government are on the verge of approving the expansion of three massive coal mines. If they go ahead, these three coal projects – called Boggabri, Caval Ridge and Lake Vermont – will cause over one billion tonnes of carbon pollution. That’s more than double all of Australia’s annual emissions. Approving new fossil fuel projects in 2024 is climate denial. There can be no new coal mines if we are to avoid the worst of climate collapse.
The Government has also failed to follow through on a core election promise, which was to fix our national nature laws. Despite the significant progress that had been made on stage two of these laws between Minister Tanya Plibersek and the Crossbench at the end of the last Federal sitting week, the Prime Minister scuttled these laws at the behest of mining interests. After coining the term ‘climate trigger’ way back in 2005, the PM won’t even countenance such an idea now.
We desperately need to see new environment laws, greater funding for our environment, and an urgent phase out of coal and gas projects. Yet the Government refuses to do these things, and is instead far more interested in appeasing mining and business lobbies. This is why we joined with protestors to demand the Government reverse these decisions, fix our nature laws, and stop approving new coal and gas mines.
Take action now! You can:
- sign the petition from 350.org to stop the approval of these three coal and gas mines here: https://act.350.org/letter/say-no-three-more-coal-projects/
- sign our petition for better national environment laws here: https://conservationcouncil.org.au/speak-up-for-strong-nature-laws/