Coalition seeks to shield mines from climate activists

Australia's coalition government is aiming to shield coal and gas projects from legal battles over emissions exported to other countries, according to opposition leader Angus Taylor. The proposed Australian Resources Exports and Jobs Protection Bill would shield major resource projects from activists trying to delay or halt them by preventing consideration of overseas emissions.

This move follows the High Court's recent ruling, which blocked a major coal mine expansion in NSW's Hunter region due to the planning body's failure to account for emissions from coal sold and burnt overseas. Taylor argued that the current process of evaluating local environmental impacts is absurd and that the new legislation would protect local jobs and prevent projects from being "held hostage by radical green activists."

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli, however, remains skeptical about the bill's application beyond NSW and has suggested reviewing Queensland's laws to make them even more robust. Federal Resources Minister Madeleine King noted that the decision does not necessarily extend to other states and emphasized that it is a technical ruling, not the end for Australia's fossil fuel industries.