Coalition plans to shield coal and gas from climate challenges

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 10 Oct, 06:24 · Archive

Australia's Opposition Leader Angus Taylor has pledged to protect coal and gas projects from legal challenges based on overseas emissions. The pledge was announced on Saturday, days after the High Court blocked Mach Energy's coal mine expansion in Muswellbrook, New South Wales. The court ruling found that the NSW planning body had failed to account for emissions from coal that would be sold and burnt overseas.

Under Taylor's proposed Australian Resources Exports and Jobs Protection Bill, federal, state and territory governments would be prevented from refusing or frustrating projects based on overseas emissions. The bill would instead establish that Australian resource projects should be assessed only on their local environmental impacts. Taylor said the current situation was 'madness' because local planning authorities must now consider climate impacts of resources used in other countries before approving a mine.

Taylor argued the move would protect jobs, saying 'If Australia cannot export our resources, our partners will simply look elsewhere.' Nationals leader Matt Canavan said the reforms would protect jobs and projects being 'held hostage by radical green activists', claiming the activists' ideology would make 'not one degree of difference'. The High Court had split 3-2 on the mine expansion ruling, and debate has since centred on whether it would affect approvals beyond New South Wales.

How it is being reported

• Coalition seeks to shield mines from climate activistsAngus Taylor has pledged to tighten protections for coal and gas projects after environmentalists successfully challenged a major coal expansion.Perth Now · 10 Oct, 05:59
• Coalition seeks to shield mines from climate activistsAngus Taylor has pledged to tighten protections for coal and gas projects after environmentalists successfully challenged a major coal expansion.The West Australian · 10 Oct, 05:59

In this story: Angus Taylor · Mach Energy · Matt Canavan · Muswellbrook · New South Wales · Australia

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