For Nannas and other climate activists this week brought celebrations of big wins in the courts and a successful action against Macquarie Bank’s investments in gas fracking in the Beetaloo Basin in the NT. Nannas also did some painting.
Hunter Locals win their appeal against Mt Pleasant coal mine
On Thursday, in a win for climate justice, the appeal against the Mt Pleasant coal mine’s approval by the Independent Planning Commission was upheld in the NSW Court of Appeal. The appeal was initiated by the Hunter Valley healthy environment group DAMS HEG and lodged by Wendy Wales and Tony Lonergan of Muswellbrook.
This win for the local activists came after previous attempts to stop the huge expansion of the MACH Energy mine had failed. But they didn’t give up, lodging a new appeal that was heard in late May. Several Nannas attended that day and sat enthralled as the case was meticulously presented by the legal team, citing many previous cases in different areas of the law.
It was during the same week that the case was presented that five people drowned in devastating floods in the Hunter region. The impact of climate change was at the core of the DAMS HEG case and the judgement will have far reaching effects. Elaine Johnson, one of the group’s legal team, said of the judgement:
“Today’s decision of the NSW Court of Appeal is truly groundbreaking, and will fundamentally change the way proposals for new and expanded fossil fuel projects are assessed in NSW. The NSW Government has consistently said that when deciding on new and expanded fossil fuel projects, the Independent Planning Commission does not need to consider climate harm arising from emissions, including exported (Scope 3) emissions.
“The NSW Court of Appeal has just confirmed that the local impacts of climate change on communities are a direct consequence of continued fossil fuel production in NSW. From today, climate harm must be specifically considered when deciding proposals for fossil fuel expansions. Nannas look forward to changes in the NSW planning system as a result of this judgement. It’s a planning system with 17 new coal projects queued up seeking approval.
International Court of Justice
The other ground breaking legal case last week was in the International Court of Justice. A group of law students from Vanuatu took a case to the UN’s highest court arguing that countries that do not act to prevent climate change could be breaching international law. The court agreed with them saying that climate change was an “urgent and existential threat” to humanity and countries had a “duty to cooperate” on addressing it.
The court president said during the hearing that “failure of a state to take appropriate action to protect the climate system … may constitute an internationally wrongful act.” Wrongful acts can result in reparations and compensation being required. The Australian government argued against the case saying that states have no legal obligations on climate change beyond those contained in existing voluntary agreements like the Paris Agreement. Read more about what the advisory judgement means for Australia from The Australia Institute.
Macquarie Bank AGM
Nannas turned up in force on Thursday 24 July along with GetUp, AYCC, Rising Tide and other climate action groups to support Market Forces action at Macquarie Bank AGM. Macquarie promotes itself as a green bank while quietly investing in fossil fuels, in particular the huge gas fracking projects in the Beetaloo Basin. Speakers at the rally called on Macquarie to change tack and stop investing in this climate bomb. There were strong statements from Market Forces, the Australian Youth Climate Coalition and a speaker on the health aspects of fossil fuels. The Beetaloo projects will add 1.1 billion tonnes of C02 equivalent into the atmosphere if they go ahead as planned.
Nannas were pleased to meet up with folk singer Patrick Harte again, and to hear him sing some very familiar anti-fracking and climate action songs.
At the AGM the remuneration of directors report was not accepted by over 25% of shareholders, which means that if this happens again next year there will be a spill of the board. The board was also challenged on regulatory breaches and their nondisclosure of their fossil fuel interests, with 35% of shareholders calling for more disclosure.
The peace movement challenges AUKUS
While Sydney Nannas have been keeping up our climate actions we’ve also been drawing the links between the climate emergency, the atrocities in Gaza and Australia’s commitment to the AUKUS deal. We’ll have more to report next week.
High Voltage success
A big thank you to all our supporters and friends who helped us make our recent “High Voltage” video. Nannas were very pleased to be able to thank Anita Jorgensen in person at our recent meeting. Anita filmed and edited the video and it was thanks to her great work that the video rocked out our message to Albo so clearly.
The video has been a hit on social media and broken all our records for views and shares. We’ll keep finding new ways to ask Albo to tune in to the climate science and lead Australia to a coal and gas free future of real zero. If feedback on High Voltage is any indication then a lot of the people who voted for Albo want him to stop approving new gas and coal mines.
Swifties: Paint, Sip and Submit – stop Maules Creek coal mine
A small flock of Nannas attended this novel Lock the Gate online event. We enjoyed being arty as we were briefed about the Maules Creek coal mine expansion. We’ll be sending our artworks to the Department of Planning with short submissions objecting to the new mine. Submissions close on 4 August. Swiftie artwork is optional, please make a submission using Lock the Gate’s helpful guide if you like.
Film ‘Corals’ Last Stand’ – save Scott Reef
This film draws attention in a very powerful way to the dangers of oil and gas drilling around Scott Reef, a coral reef 300 kms off the coast of WA. There’s a proposal to drill fifty wells around this beautiful giant coral reef, threatening the coral and the 1,200 species it supports. The film follows the voyage of a team of prominent Australians including author Tim Winton and musician John Butler as they travel to the reef to bring worldwide attention to the impact that drilling will have on this special place.
This half hour documentary asks whether Australia can really afford to exploit this gas reserve in a time of growing community concern at rising global temperatures. And if it does will Scott Reef and the life it supports be the collateral damage of that decision?
It can be viewed online now, for a small price. Even the trailer is worthwhile viewing. More showings will be coming.
Nannas are watching
The real net zero questions do not involve the Coalition (Guardian Australia)
Nannas are listening
Isabelle Reinecke and Royce Kurmelovs discussing the implications of the Australian Climate Case, the Government’s galling arguments and what comes next for the Torres Strait (apart from lots more devastating salt water). (The Sunday Shot)
Nannas are reading
How to build an empire – Part 1 (2025) (Jubilee Australia)
Scientists release seven-point plan to tackle SA’s ‘catastrophic’ toxic algal bloom (ABC)
‘Significant legal breakthrough’ as NSW court blocks state’s largest coal expansion over emissions (The Guardian)
World Court climate decision lights match under Australia’s fossil fuel industry (ABC)
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