A regional environment group has launched a legal intervention asking Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek to reconsider assessment for 19 coal and gas projects, including 14 based in Queensland.

The Environment Council of Central Queensland (ECoCeQ), represented by Environmental Justice Australia (EJA), submitted requests to Ms Plibersek to consider the climate impact from the proposals on thousands of Matters of National Environmental Significance.  

Among the contested projects are Glencore’s Valeria project, the Ensham coal mine extension, Whitehaven’s Winchester South project, China Stone and BMA’s Saraji East mining project. (See the full list HERE)

“Until now, former environment ministers failed to account for the detrimental effect climate change will have on thousands of Matters of National Environmental Significance across the country, when determining the impacts fossil fuel proposals could have on the environment,” ECoCeQ president Christine Carlisle said. 

“This is about all of it. Koalas, turtles, the reef, Kakadu. Cultural heritage sites of deep significance for First Nations people. All the natural wonders we want our children and their children to know and love.” 

EJA Principal Lawyer Hollie Kerwin said: “Under a rarely used provision of the EPBC Act, our client has requested Minister Plibersek reconsider assessment of pending coal and gas proposals and expansions currently on her desk. 

“Our client has compiled a vault of the most up-to-date evidence showing the global scientific consensus on the effects of climate change for so many of the places, plants and species the minister is tasked with legal responsibility for. 

“The requests by our client aim to make sure the application of environmental law in Australia accounts for the reality of climate change.” 

The EJA said Ms Plibersek had been handed more than 3000 documents, spreadsheets and detailed fire maps from scientific sources and the government’s own documents charting the impact of climate change driven by greenhouse gas emissions on 2121 species, places and ecological communities.