2025-03-04
The Greens have today responded to court action launched against the Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek, saying the Albanese Government has failed nature and endangered animals while it continues to allow native forest logging and new coal and gas approvals.
Attributable to Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, Greens Spokesperson for the environment, Senator for South Australia:
“Successive Ministers have failed in their duties to protect the environment over and over again.
“The current Minister has failed to halt native forest logging, continued to approve new coal and gas mines, and has not even complied with the most basic obligations under the existing laws.
"It should not be too much to ask for an Environment Minister to do their job properly and protect nature. Complying with the law is the bare minimum - yet successive ministers have failed for years to do so.
"Not only has the Environment Minister failed to make recovery plans for threatened wildlife, but they have continued to sign off on activities and mining projects that will push our animals even closer to extinction. Approving new and expanded coal mines at the expense of koala habitat is pushing our treasured koalas to extinction.
“In WA, the South32 Worsley bauxite mine and the North Stoneville townsite development will destroy hundreds of hectares of habitat for critically endangered black cockatoos, while loggers in NSW continue to destroy greater glider habitat in the proposed Great Koala National Park.
"This government-sanctioned environmental destruction must stop. Protection and recovery of our precious wildlife must come first.
"It's no wonder people are disappointed with Labor, but environment-wrecking Dutton and his mining magnate mates will be worse.
"Mining billionaire Gina Rinehart is opposed to environmental regulation and is pushing Peter Dutton to cut laws that should protect nature. The Greens are the only party fighting for the environment. We will be working to keep Dutton out and hold Labor to account on the environment.”