New federal environment minister Tanya Plibersek is being asked to reconsider nearly all new coal and gas proposals now.
This is a result of a by聽The Environment Council of Central Queensland, with the support of Environmental Justice Australia.
This is a huge opportunity and a key test for the new government聽about how seriously it will tackle climate change.
After years of delay and denial under the former Coalition government, the new Anthony Albanese government understands the threat of climate change. Federal Labor has already moved to enact significant parts of its climate and energy policy and put the country back in the global climate action game.
Whether these new coal and gas projects are approved will be a major test of how deep Labor鈥檚 commitment is.
Coal mine proposals on the federal referral list include billionaire Clive Palmer鈥檚聽open-cut coal mine 10 kilometres from the coast near the Great Barrier Reef and an extension of the Narrabri coal mine, described as Australia鈥檚 鈥渄irtiest thermal coal project鈥.
If the 27 projects all go ahead, they could release nearly 17 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide 鈥斅爉ore than 35 times Australia鈥檚 annual emissions. Nineteen 鈥渞econsideration requests鈥 have been submitted.
Plibersek has said she will 鈥渃arefully consider鈥 the projects referred under the national environmental laws.
[Cam Walker is Friends of the Earth campaigns coordinator. Friends of the Earth is asking people to email or call the minister with a short, polite message on 02聽6277 7920.]