The Australian Greens have called Murray Watt's decision to approve the extension of a coal mine - the first coal mine of the new Parliament - 'business as usual' for Labor.
The coal mine - Glencore's Ulan thermal coal mine near Mudgee in NSW - already has existing approvals to mine up to 20 million tonnes of thermal coal each year.
The extension would extract an extra 18.8 million tonnes, and extend the mine's life to 2045.
The Greens have called approving coal mine extensions a 'climate crime', that would commit Australia to providing the world with decades more coal power, which should be replaced with clean technology.
To drive down emissions and take the action needed to limit global warming to 1.5 or 2 degrees, Labor needs to stop approving coal and gas projects.
Yet in the last term alone, Labor approved over 30 new coal and gas projects.
And with this decision on Glencore's Ulan thermal coal mine, Minister Watt appears ready to continue this climate vandalism.
In addition to wreaking havoc on the climate, this extension will impact local wildlife as well, clearing up to 37 hectares of native vegetation for the surface area infrastructure, putting threatened species like koalas and swift parrots further at risk.
As stated by Leader of the Australian Greens, Senator Larissa Waters:
"Approving coal or gas in this day and age is a climate crime. Yet for Labor, it seems to be business as usual.
"Labor must stop gaslighting the public - opening new coal and gas is the opposite of climate action.
"It locks Australia into providing the world with more coal and gas for decades to come, while putting threatened wildlife like our precious koalas at risk.
"Last week Minister Watt said he was planning to introduce new environmental laws later this year, but that he wouldn't call them 'Nature Positive'.
"Maybe that's because they're going to be Coal and Gas Positive instead."
As stated by Australian Greens Environment spokesperson, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young:
"This shows just how badly we need new environment laws. It's crazy that the Environment Minister can approve a thermal coal mine for twenty years when we know this will make climate change worse.
"While Labor is approving more coal and gas, Australians are already feeling the impacts of the climate crisis, like the toxic algal bloom in South Australia.
"Labor needs to make a choice. Are they going to keep approving new coal and gas and do deals with the Liberals to weaken environmental protections, or will they work with the Greens to take climate action and protect nature."
As stated by Australian Greens spokesperson for resources, Senator Steph Hodgins-May:
"Minister Watt's first coal mine approval this term shows exactly where Labor's priorities lie - they can greenlight new fossil fuel projects, but they still refuse to release the national climate risk assessment we've been demanding.
"This government is addicted to coal and gas. Over 30 approvals last term, and now more climate bombs on the way.
"On the eve of setting 2035 emissions targets, the Albanese Government is locking in new coal projects that will make any target meaningless.
"This is not climate leadership. It's climate sabotage - and its future generations, frontline communities and endangered wildlife that will pay the price."
