Newcastle coal export boost exposes govt deception on its climate change plans

Greens MP Lee Rhiannon commenting on the NSW government’s Hunter Coal Export Framework, a scheme designed to create a massive increase in coal export capacity that starts on New Year’s Day, has left Labor’s climate change credentials in tatters.

According to Ports Minister Paul McLeay the Spring Ocean will dock at Port Newcastle today making it the first ship to come in under the government’s new coal export strategy. It will ship 82,000 tonnes of coal to Korea.

“This is an ominous start to what should be the decade to rein in human induced climate change,” Ms Rhiannon said.

“In Australia to be serious about climate change governments need to have a plan to end our dependence on coal fired power and to reduce coal exports by not opening up new mines or extending existing mines.

“The burning and mining of coal makes up more than 35 per cent of Australia’s emissions.

“Newcastle MP Jodi McKay has boasted that the Export Framework will double the port’s coal export capacity taking it to 180 million tonnes annually by 2015.

“Consolidating Port Newcastle’s status as the world’s largest coal port exposes the deceptiveness of the federal and state government’s climate change policy.

“Today’s statement from Minister McLeay makes great play of the alleged economic benefits of this coal export boom.

“These comments do not take into account the huge cost to the economy, local communities and the environment from climate change.

“The UK climate change report by Sir Nicholas Stern concluded that the cost of not dealing with climate change would be considerable in terms of reduced global gross domestic product of between five and 20 per cent each year.

“Today’s announcement should have been about a clean energy framework not another hand out to the coal companies.

“This pro-coal framework robs traditional coal communities like the Hunter of sustainable jobs growth in green energy delivery and manufacturing.

“Many more jobs can be created in renewable energy and energy efficiency projects for the domestic and export markets compared with the coal industry.

“Minister McLeay’s announcement will drive the coal rush in the north western coalfields. The only winners here are the multinational coal companies," Ms Rhiannon said.

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