Chris Bowen defends coalmine extensions as Labor weathers backlash

The Albanese government is weathering backlash from environmentalists after extending the life of four coalmines.

Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek on Thursday announced the extensions to NSW’s Boggabri and Queensland’s Caval Ridge Horse Pit, Laker Vermont Meadowbrook and Vulcan South mines, claiming it was essential to support Australia’s steelmaking industry.

Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young on Friday dismissed the justification and accused the Albanese government of “dumping the rubbish on Christmas eve”.

“If they wanted people to know about it, they wouldn’t have tried to hide it over the last 24 hours,” Senator Hanson-Young told the ABC.

“They’re not proud of it, they know it’s damaging, they know it stinks, and they don’t have a plan to get out of the export of coal.”

But appearing shortly after Senator Hanson-Young, Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen defended the mine extensions, insisting metallurgical coal was vital while Australia develops green steelmaking options.

“Green steel is coming, it’s got a great future but it’s not here yet,” Mr Bowen said.

“The fact of the matter is when the Greens talk about these things … they just lump all coal together.”

He said Australia was on track to reach the 82 per cent renewable energy target by 2030 and transitioning the energy system “is a long process”.

“The fact of the matter is we need a lot of steel for this transition,” Mr Bowen said.

“We’re building a lot of transmission lines and towers … we’ll need more steel, not less.

“The fact of the matter is it’s going to require metallurgical coal for years to come.”

Mining firm Vitrinite is being investigated for allegedly going ahead with mining operations at the Vulcan South extension site without federal approval.

It allegedly cleared nearly 50 hectares of koala habitat.

In her remarks, Senator Hanson-Young said it was “appalling” that the Vulcan South extension “would fall smack-bang in the middle of koala habitat that’s going to make climate change worse, push up pollution, and push koalas to further extinction”.

“This company is being investigated for illegally clearing and bulldozing this habitat before been given any approval,” she said.

“And now they have been given the green light. It sends the wrong message to the industry that they can go do whatever they like without approval and at the end of the day the minister will just roll over.”

Independent experts are divided on whether the Vulcan South extension qualifies as an extension or a stand-alone mine.