Nannas have been in a spin this week keeping up with Murray Watt’s Environment Protection Reform Bill, the Minns government’s planning laws and Whitehaven’s coal expansion plans. The Silly Season has arrived early so we’re paying close attention.
Whitehaven Coal AGM
Nannas rallied outside the Whitehaven AGM to ask shareholders to think again about their investments in the coal exports that are driving climate change. We handed shareholders a leaflet about why Whitehaven isn’t a good choice. We reminded them of the company’s environmental crimes and their plans to keep mining until 2121, despite predictions that coal exports will fall by 50 per cent in the next five years. We drew attention to the Climate Risk Report which spells out the expected consequences for Australians if we don’t act to protect the climate.
Meanwhile, Nannas Keelah and Bron had dressed up in their best clothes to go into the AGM as proxies for shareholders who are part of the Market Forces campaign to bring about a shift of investments away from fossil fuels. Questions from shareholders put issues onto the public record about the company’s operations and their rationale for expanding coal in a climate emergency.
The Nannas found it a depressing experience to be inside Whitehaven’s world even for a couple of hours, where colossal plans to cook the planet were discussed as though they are rational. They were delighted when a team of Rising Tide members rose one after the other to disrupt the proceedings with loud interjections. They made strong statements about the reality that Whitehaven’s massive coal exports are driving up global temperatures and increasing the existential risk of climate change. Well done Rising Tide! See reel on Rising Tide Instagram
Mark Vaile, Whitehaven chairman and former Deputy PM, claimed that metallurgical coal is now classified as a critical mineral, following Donald Trump’s lead. Unsurprisingly there’s no sign of metallurgical or any other type of coal on the list of Australia’s critical minerals. See IEEFA Fact Sheet for more information about metallurgical coal.
One of Nanna Bron’s questions was, “Given the Winchester South Project is still before the Queensland Land Court, and acknowledging the growing scrutiny of new coal projects, can the Board advise what contingency plans are in place should the Winchester South project be rejected?”
Paul Flynn, the CEO, said he was “very confident” it would be approved and that the Safeguard Mechanism would take care of any climate concerns, meaning they’d buy more carbon offsets, as is permitted under the Safeguard Mechanism.
Reforms to national environment laws
Senator Murray Watt, Minister for the Environment and Water, launched the long awaited reforms to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act at the National Press Club on 30 October. (ABC iview)
Criticism of the reforms include:
- The Environment Minister of the day has almost unfettered discretion if they deem a project to be in the ‘national interest’, a phrase not defined in the act.
- The national standards that decisions would be based on have not been released in draft form.
- A climate trigger has been ruled out by the Minister. The government continues to say that the Safeguard Mechanism will deal with climate risks, even though it applies only to some of the biggest carbon emitters and does not consider indirect or downstream emissions. It did not impede Murray Watt’s approval of the North West Shelf project until 2070, a project that in 2023-24 met the requirements of the Safeguard Mechanism by doing nothing other than buying carbon offsets.
- State and territory governments that receive federal accreditation will be delegated to make decisions about large coalmining and unconventional gas projects that affect groundwater reserves and/or waterways.
- Exemptions in the current law for native forests (the regional forests agreements) have not been removed.
- The clearing of land for agriculture is not in the scope of the current bill.
- The new independent national EPA is only for compliance and enforcement, not environmental approvals.
- Biodiversity offsets are relied upon to reduce emissions, rather than avoiding damage in the first place. A developer can ‘offset’ the damage they do to habitat by buying or restoring equivalent habitat elsewhere or pay ‘Restoration Contributions’ (money) into an offset fund instead. The NSW offset scheme has amassed money that can’t be spent as there is no suitable replacement habitat.
Senate Standing Committees on Environment and Communications will accept submissions until 5 December on the Environment Protection Reform Bill 2025 and six related bills.
References:
Labor’s environmental law overhaul: a little progress and a lot of compromise (The Conversation)
Environmental law draft reform package Score Card (Environmental Justice Australia)
Environment law reform must safeguard the future of remote communities. Land councils are dismayed that they have not been consulted about the reform of the laws. (Central Land Council)
Environmental law reform unlikely to deliver for biodiversity without major strengthening. (The Biodiversity Council)
NSW Planning Law
NSW planning reforms passed the Lower House with key amendments:
- Protection of the environment and community have been restored
- Mining projects are excluded from the new fast-track Targeted Assessment Development pathway
- Bushfire considerations in planning decisions remains largely the same.
Jeremy Buckingham MLC’s proposed amendment is still to be voted on:
“The regulations under subsection (1A)(b) must not declare that greenhouse gas emissions and climate change impacts are factors that are not of relevance to development the subject of a development application.”
It is critical that this one remaining amendment is passed to preserve the current legal requirement that the impacts of emissions and climate change must be considered in project assessments.
During the long debate in the upper house, the NSW Climate Change Minister, Penny Sharpe, said that the government would not support this amendment. So, we have only until parliament returns on 11 November to change their minds. Please join with Lock the Gate and the Nannas in contacting Minister Sharpe and ALP members of the upper house asking them to support this amendment, which is consistent with their commitment to reduce emissions.
Minns threatens compulsory acquisitions
NSW Premier, Chris Minns, has threatened to forcibly take farmers’ land to make way for Santos’ Hunter Gas Pipeline despite 66 per cent of landholders along the route refusing to give their consent. Who pays – Santos or the taxpayer?
Rick Wilkinson, chief executive of consultancy EnergyQuest, says “The question becomes whether the Santos board and NSW government – with an election in March 2027 – can stomach videos on the nightly news of Knitting Nannas confronting the construction bulldozers, and drilling rig crews.” (Financial Review)
He’s read our minds! Knitting Nannas groups were formed to stop coal seam gas mining in NSW and we won’t give up. The good thing is we know many others have the same idea – farmers, Gomeroi traditional owners and NSW trade unions, just to name a few.
We may be older (some of us have osteoporosis), but we hope the arresting police will put us in the passenger seats of the paddy wagons, so they’re not held responsible for breaking our bones.
Santos has spent a decade exporting Australian gas overseas. Their gas reserves were not sufficient for their international contracts, so they exported gas from Bass Strait, which was meant to last the east coast well into the future.
As a major exporter of gas there are many ways to free up supplies for domestic use and to reduce its use by households. As Matt Kean, chair of the Climate Change Authority, said recently “The idea that there’s a gas shortage in Australia is laughable. There is a domestic gas shortage because the majority of the gas is being exported offshore, and 25 per cent of that gas … is uncontracted.” (AFR)
Lock the Gate – Leave the Nannas alone, Santos Instagram reel
First Nations’ leaders and scientists uncover biodiversity treasures in NSW’s Pilliga – the largest remnant semi-arid woodland in the state. This is where Santos wants to extend its gasfields. (Australian Museum)
NSW farmers condemn threat of compulsory land acquisition for Santos Narrabri Gas Project (ABC News)
Why Santos is behind your soaring electricity and mortgage costs (ABC News)
Don’t Gas Asia Rally
Nannas joined a rally organised by Jubilee Australia and supported by Australian Religious Response to Climate Change on Tuesday at the Japanese Consulate in Sydney. They called for Japan and Australia to stop gassing Asia. Similar actions organised by Don’t Gas Asia were held in Manila, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta and Darwin. Jubilee delivered a petition prepared by the coalition of Don’t Gas Asia and Fossil Free Japan, demonstrating civil society’s opposition to expanding gas as a fossil fuel. Japanese gas companies are trying to develop a larger gas market in Asia. Under contract, they purchase cheap gas from Australia and resell it to other markets. (The Guardian)
Cost of Living Help Hub
Knitting Nannas joined Lock the Gate at Marrickville on 29 October where NSW local Labor MP, Jo Haylen, convened a Cost of Living Help Hub. We wanted locals to think about how climate change contributes to the rising cost of living, not just today, but long into the future. Coal is driving climate change and climate disasters are pushing up insurance costs. In areas where properties are deemed not insurable, owners will be unable to mortgage their properties.
Rising Tide Blockade
Over 60 kayakers in 30 yellow kayaks paddled across Sydney harbour from Kirribilli to the Opera House on Sunday 26 October. The event included training in kayak skills and water safety ahead of this year’s Protestival and blockade of Newcastle coal port from November 27 to 2 December.
Nannas were at the Opera House to greet them. Speakers included Suhaila from Jubilee, Thea Ormerod from Australian Religious Response to Climate Change, and Nanna Keelah Lam.
At least 16 Sydney Knitting Nannas and Friends will be at the Blockade. We hope to see you there. Information page on the Rising Tide Blockade for Knitting Nannas will be updated.
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