Media release – various groups, 12 October 2022

Tasmanian Govt condemned for releasing new coal mine lease following announcement of new coal mine

An alliance of groups formed to oppose the new coal mine at Fingal have said that they are appalled that the Tasmanian Government has, in addition, published a new coal mine lease, following the announcement of a new coal mine at Fingal.

The Tasmanian Government recently published a new coal lease for tender. The lease area borders Douglas-Apsley National Park.

“This shows that the Tasmanian Government isn’t serious about the climate crisis or the renewable energy transition. Premier Rockliff’s claim that Tasmania is a ‘climate leader’ is greenwash,” said Micah Landon-Lane of the Tasmanian Climate Collective speaking on behalf of the new alliance.

“We want to stop the new coal mine at Fingal. In fact, we want to stop all future coal mines. And we want to see Tasmania’s Parliament and Government finally, fully and urgently commit Tasmania to no new fossil fuels. The future demands nothing less of us.

“There is no moral, social, economic or scientific case for new fossil fuels and there is a greater need than ever to divest, decarbonise and declare the island fossil fuel free. The International Energy Agency has gone to the trouble of creating a roadmap to net zero by 2050 that necessitates no new fossil fuels but the Tasmanian Government still isn’t walking the walk.

“Unfortunately not only is the Rockliff Government expanding new coal mines, it also supports new fossil fuel gas too. It has failed to condemn the expansion of fossil fuel gas exploration and seismic blasting in the sea around Tasmania, leaving local communities to fend for themselves. And the Government has signed an MoU with one of the country’s worst polluters, Woodside, to add fossil fuel gas to otherwise clean hydrogen. It’s madness.

“We are calling for the Tasmanian Government and Parliament to

  • Condemn the new coal mine at Fingal

  • Support in principle and practice lutruwita/Tasmania’s divestment from fossil fuels and to commit to no new fossil fuels.

  • Sign the International Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty

The Tasmanian Government needs to

  • Reaffirm the Rockliff Government’s commitment to green hydrogen and rule out any government role in the production of black/brown hydrogen

  • Confirm whether the Rockliff Government has provided or is providing support to the new mine at Fingal or its proponent.

  • Declare a climate and biodiversity emergency

 This media release has been sent on behalf of the following groups:

  • FLAC (Frontline Action On Coal)

  • Grant (Grassroots Action Network Tasmania)

  • Bob Brown Foundation

  • Frack Free Tasmania

  • Wilderness Society (lutruwita/Tasmania)

  • Doctors For The Environment

  • AYCC (lutruwita/Tasmania)

  • Tasmanian Conservation Trust

  • Climate Action Hobart

  • Nipaluna Climate Collective (SS4C TAS)

  • Tasmanian Climate Collective