Government allows extension of coal mines as minister boasts of no new approvals

Minutes after officially recommending a “greenfield” coal mine be approved in Queensland, and approving extensions to three others, Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek boldly declared no new coal mines have been approved in 2024.
The Vulcan South Mine, proposed by mining company, Vitrinite, has now been earmarked by the minister for approval.
Vitrinite describes the mine in Queensland’s Bowen Basin as “a greenfield development” and made clear that its existing operation and Vulcan South were “independent projects” to be “executed separately”.
When Vitrinite received its separate approval from the Queensland government, the company argued Vulcan South was a separate new mine. And the Queensland government agreed, noting “the department considers that the Vulcan Coal Mine and Vulcan South Mine are separate projects operating to different timelines”.
When ABC News asked why the government didn’t deem the mine “new”, a spokesperson for Ms Plibersek said: “The independent scientific experts and the minister’s department classify the project as an expansion.”
Minutes after announcing the approvals, Ms Plibersek posted an image to X comparing the former Coalition government approving eight new coal mines in 2014 with the Albanese government approving zero in 2024.
Vitrinite is under a criminal investigation for allegedly proceeding with mining at the site of the proposed mine without federal approval, after clearing 47 hectares of koala habitat.
“It seems that under the Albanese Government, coal companies can mine and clear endangered species habitat without approval and suffer no consequences,” said Claire Gronow from environmental group Lock The Gate.
Jenny Brown from the Queensland Conservation Council agreed.
“This decision is an insult to Australians and a shocking failure of leadership. By approving a mine under criminal investigation the government is sending a dangerous message: corporate lawbreakers can get their way,” she said.
A spokesperson for Ms Plibersek said: “The Albanese Government makes decisions on a case-by-case basis in accordance with the facts and the law. That’s what happens in every case, and that’s what has happened here.”
The three other coal mine extensions which have been formally approved are:
- Boggabri coal mine in New South Wales, which will produce coal for burning in coal-fired power plants and steel-making
- Caval Ridge Mine in Queensland’s Bowen Basin, which will produce coal for steel-making
- Lake Vermont Meadowbank coal mine in Queensland, which will also produce coal for steel making
Combined, the four coal mining approvals will result in more than 900 million tonnes of carbon emissions over their lifetimes, about twice what Australia produced from all sources in 2023.
An aerial view of Boggabri coal mine in New South Wales, which will produce coal for burning in coal-fired power plants and steel-making. (Supplied: Natural Resources Access Regulator)
Ms Plibersek’s spokesperson said Labor had “approved zero new coal mines this year — meanwhile, our government has ticked off a record 68 renewable energy projects, enough to power more than 7 million Australian homes.”
The spokesperson noted the projects would support “up to 3,000 jobs” and would have to comply with Australia’s commitment to net-zero emissions by 2050.
“They will all be assessed against the government’s strong climate safeguard laws that the Greens party and independents helped design, and that they voted for,” the spokesperson said.
The approvals, announced late in the afternoon and less than a week before Christmas, have also sparked outrage from Pacific Islands leaders.
Reverend James Bhegwan, head of the Pacific Conference of Churches, said the ongoing expansions “risk jeopardising relationships in the region and Australia’s legitimacy as a climate leader”.
His words echoed the sentiment of Tuvalu Prime Minister Feleti Teo, who condemned the government’s decision to approve three other coal mining extensions in September.
“To put it plainly — it is a death sentence for us if larger nations continue to open new fossil fuel projects,” Prime Minister Teo said at the time.
Greens environment spokesperson Sarah Hanson-Young said the announcement was “the ultimate dumping of rubbish on Christmas Eve”.
“The Labor Government has given coal for Christmas — gifting coal companies a huge win and delivering more pollution and more pain for Australia’s koalas,” she said.
Greens environment spokesperson Sarah Hanson-Young said the announcement was “the ultimate dumping of rubbish on Christmas Eve”. (
ABC News: Matt Roberts
)
Ms Plibersek’s spokesperson said the mines would produce coal that will be used to make steel to build homes, bridges, wind farms and solar panels.
They noted the government had imposed 240 “strict conditions” across the projects to protect the environment.
The spokesperson said the emissions from the mines will be regulated by the government’s safeguard mechanism, designed in collaboration with the Greens.
More than 95 per cent of the emissions the mines will produce will be “scope three” — emissions produced with the coal is burned. Those emissions are not covered by the safeguard mechanism.