Lock the Gate Alliance

As Queensland communities begin to recover from devastating flood events, environment groups have slammed the Albanese government for approving another open cut coal mine expansion in central Queensland this week. 

A record number of appeals have been lodged against the WA Environmental Protection Authority’s (EPA) decision to recommend approval of Black Mountain Energy’s* fracking project in the Kimberley, signalling widespread community opposition.

The Queensland Government has today approved expansion of a coal mine that was found by the Queensland Land Court to have failed to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, with the decision condemned by community group Lock the Gate.

Residents from NSW’s major coal-producing regions have called on NSW Minister for Natural Resources Courtney Houssos for stronger support, ahead of parliamentary debate on the government’s Future Jobs and Investment Bill 2025.

Coal mining giant Yancoal has disrupted a community consultation process with a last-minute attempt to greenwash its proposal for the koala-crunching Moolarben coal mine expansion near Mudgee. 

As disastrous floods hit central Queensland, 23 coal mines dumped an estimated 82 billion litres of wastewater – equivalent to 32,812 Olympic swimming pools – into the Fitzroy Basin in just 10 days.

Community groups are stunned and outraged, vowing to ramp up pressure on the Cook Government after Western Australia’s EPA recommended the first fracking project in the state since Labor lifted the moratorium in 2019 be approved.

Much of central Queensland may be under floodwater but cattle farmer Patricia Goodwin feels like she has been left high and dry by Bowen Coking Coal.