Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek has approved a controversial proposal by South32 to expand bauxite mining operations in Western Australia’s Northern Jarrah Forest.
The decision greenlights the clearing of 4,500 hectares of the unique forest, a habitat for numerous threatened species, including black cockatoos, woylies, and numbats.
The approval has ignited fierce criticism from conservation groups, who argue it contradicts the Australian government’s commitment to halt extinctions.
These groups highlight that the area slated for clearing is equivalent in size to Minister Plibersek’s own electorate of Sydney.
While the proposal received conditional approval from WA Environment Minister Reece Whitby following an assessment by the state’s Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) at the end of 2024, concerns were raised about the adequacy of South32’s information and management plans.
The EPA also noted that the Northern Jarrah Forests are unlikely to be successfully rehabilitated post-mining, a finding supported by recent scientific studies.
Jenita Enevoldsen, Senior Campaigner for the Wilderness Society, condemned the decision.
“This approval flies in the face of that plan, which gives permission to bulldoze thousands of football fields of threatened species habitat, critical to the survival of species like Karrak / red-tailed black cockatoo, the numbat and woylie,” she stated.
Enevoldsen further accused the Minister of prioritising corporations over community concerns and failing to uphold international agreements on deforestation and biodiversity.
Jason Fowler, WA Forest Alliance’s Senior Campaigner, echoed these concerns, emphasising the multiple threats facing threatened species, stated: “The Minister’s decision means a further 4500ha of critical habitat in the Northern Jarrah Forests will be bulldozed and burnt.
“Threatened species will take a triple hit — from climate impacts, from clearing, and a failed rehabilitation program.”
Fowler also highlighted the significant greenhouse gas emissions associated with South32’s Worsley operation, estimating a further 51 million tonnes of GHGs by 2050.
He warned that this would place the Northern Jarrah Forest at serious risk of ecosystem collapse.
Curtin University has hosted a series of public seminars this week to present findings from a major survey exploring public attitudes toward bauxite mining in the Jarrah forests.
Professor Ross Taplin from Curtin’s School of Accounting, Economics and Finance, who led the survey, noted a “general lack of awareness about both our jarrah forests and bauxite mining in the Darling Range”.
He added that providing people with information can change their attitudes, with some focusing on economic benefits and others prioritising environmental protection.
The research also examined the impact of government transparency on public trust.
