Historic win for reef as Clive Palmer’s Central Queensland mine rejected on environmental grounds

Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek has blocked Clive Palmer's Central Queensland coal mine project in the first ever refusal of a mine under national laws.

Minister Plibersek’s historic decision to reject the Clive Palmer-owned risky Central Queensland Coal mine is a victory for the Great Barrier Reef as the proposed mine, located 10km from the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, would have posed a massive threat.

Independent scientific modelling has shown that sediment from the mine may have increased water pollution and threatened turtle and dugong strongholds.

The Queensland Government recommended that the project was “not suitable to proceed” and federal-appointed scientists said they could not envisage mitigation measures that could safeguard the nearby environments. 

Australian Marine Conservation Society Senior Great Barrier Reef Campaigner Cherry Muddle noted “Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek has shown leadership by listening to the scientists and the community and rejecting this risky project. This is the right decision for the Great Barrier Reef, the marine wildlife that call Broad Sound home and the communities that depend on a healthy Reef for their livelihoods. We all have a duty of care to protect this natural wonder and global icon.

“This is the first time the Australian Government has rejected a coal mine after federal assessment and should be the first step in rejecting new fossil fuel projects. The International Energy Agency has said we cannot start any new fossil fuel projects if we are to keep global warming to 1.5oC – a critical threshold for the survival of coral reefs.

“Fossil fuels drive global warming, which is the greatest threat to our Reef, powering the marine heatwaves that cause coral bleaching, with the Reef suffering four mass bleaching events since 2016.

“Australia and Queensland need to embrace the massive economic and job opportunities in renewable energy. We have some of the best and most abundant renewable energy resources in the world and can become a renewable energy superpower, powering the industries of the future.”

Image top: Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek; image above: community protest calling for Government to reject the Clive Palmer-owned Central Queensland Coal Mine