Galilee coal deal to put another nail in climate coffin

7th of Feb, 2010

Friends of the Earth Brisbane join calls from the Mackay Conservation Group for the Queensland Government to reconsider its support for the China First coal project in central Queensland town of Alpha.

Resourcehouse's chairperson Clive Palmer and Premier Anna Bligh jointly announced yesterday the progression of what would be the world’s largest coal mine, having struck a multi-billion dollar deal which would see a twenty year supply of coal to Chinese power-stations.

“This deal drives another nail into the coffin of our climate. If the project goes ahead, then emissions from the exported coal would equal 12% of Australia’s total domestic emissions,” said Friends of the Earth spokesperson Bradley Smith.

“This makes a mockery of claims made by Premier Bligh that the Queensland Government is serious about tackling climate change,” Mr Smith said.

“The 8000 Ha Bimblebox Nature Refuge near Alpha would be cleared and mined by this project. How ironic that in the International Year of Biodiversity, Queensland still lacks legislation to protect areas of high conservation significance from mining,” commented Mr Smith, echoing similar calls from the Mackay Conservation Group.

“We want to know why the Queensland Government continues to put coal mining first when it is destroying our biodiversity and our climate," Mr Smith said.

For background information, visit www.mackayconservationgroup.org.au and http://bimblebox.org/

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