Under an agreement reached with the Australian Government today, mining company Alcoa will pay an unprecedented $55 million through enforceable undertakings to remediate historical land clearing, the largest conservation‑focused commitment of its kind.
The undertakings relate to clearing, between 2019 and 2025, of known habitat for nationally protected species in the Northern Jarrah Forest, south of Perth, to enable bauxite mining. The clearing occurred without seeking approvals under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
The undertakings, which are enforceable in the Federal Court, will deliver:
- permanent ecological offsets to preserve important habitat;
- expanded conservation programs for species including Western Australia's three black cockatoo species; and
- strengthened invasive‑species management within the Northern Jarrah Forest.
To regularise environmental approvals moving forward, the Australian Government has agreed to progress a strategic assessment agreement with Alcoa to guide sustainable mining at its Huntly and Willowdale mining operations, around 100 kilometres south of Perth, until 2045.
Strategic assessments form a key part of our broader environmental agenda. This agreement will enable government to assess the cumulative environmental impacts of Alcoa's local mining operations and provide strong protections for threatened species and ecological communities, while offering Alcoa long-term operational certainty.
In accordance with national environment law, I have also granted a national‑interest exemption to Alcoa allowing for limited land clearing to continue its mining operations for a period of 18 months, while the strategic assessment is completed.
This time-limited exemption:
- ensures the continued supply of bauxite and supports future gallium production, critical for renewable systems like solar panels and wind turbines,
- secures a stable supply of minerals vital for our net zero transformation and Defence industries, while strengthening partnerships with the United States and Japan, and;
- ensures Alcoa can sustain its operations, which employ approximately 6,000 workers, while the strategic assessment is completed.
In addition, Alcoa has committed a further $4.2 million in offsets for activities covered by the exemption, ensuring environmental impacts are responsibly managed and compensated.
Since 2022, the Australian Government has significantly strengthened compliance and enforcement. More investigations, enforceable undertakings, and faster responses now deter those seeking to evade national environmental laws.
And those seeking to evade national environmental laws have been put on further notice, with even tougher measures coming into effect through our landmark EPBC reforms. Last year's historic reforms include higher penalties and the establishment of Australia's first National Environmental Protection Agency from 1 July, with a clear focus on compliance and enforcement.
