Leading conservation groups have called for Alcoa not to be issued a new exemption order while its environmental impact is assessed, amid mounting community pressure to end forest mining.
Earlier this month, the State Government issued a notice of intention to revoke Alcoa’s Environmental Protection (Darling Range Bauxite Mining Proposals) Exemption Order 2023, to be replaced by an updated order when its new Mining Management Plan is ready to be approved.
However, End Forest Mining (EFM) alliance members have asked Environment Minister Matthew Swinbourn and Premier Roger Cook to put a stop to further exemptions altogether, to provide greater protection for drinking water and the irreplaceable cultural, biodiversity and climate values of the Northern Jarrah Forest.
Since receiving its 2023 exemption order, Alcoa has been penalised for illegally clearing forest without federal permission for more than 15 years, caught piping PFAS chemicals over critical water catchments without authorisation, compromised conservation efforts by failing to share critical black cockatoo data, and found to have misled Australians on rehabilitation claims.
Jess Boyce, WA Forest Alliance Director said the EFM alliance was concerned that Alcoa’s bauxite mining exemption order will simply be replaced and without any meaningfully stronger conditions to protect the Northern Jarrah Forest and the endangered species impacted by Alcoa’s operations.
“Hundreds of hectares of precious forests are being destroyed every year whilst Alcoa is granted exemption after exemption from State and Federal environment laws, despite ongoing breaches and deceptive conduct,” Ms Boyce said.
“The current exemption order is wholly inadequate, with negligible, or non-existent buffers for protecting drinking water, cultural heritage, nesting trees and other areas of high-conservation value. This is an opportunity to properly hold them to account.”
Matt Roberts, Conservation Council of WA Executive Director said environmental policy was continuing to fail and government ambition on reforms to protect threatened species had been too low for too long.
“CCWA has sent a clear message with our Back from the Brink report that WA’s nature laws are failing to protect and restore nature,” Mr Roberts said.
“Our report puts forward a comprehensive plan which includes stronger protections for threatened species and recovery plans that must be complied with. This exemption is completely at odds with threatened species protection.
“We have seen unprecedented engagement from the community around projects like Alcoa's bauxite mine expansion in the world’s only jarrah forest – with more than 59,000 public submissions to the Environmental Protection Authority in 2025.”
Alyx Douglas, The Wilderness Society WA Campaigns Manager said the Northern Jarrah Forest and Perth’s drinking water supply must be protected as a matter of urgency.
“Issuing Alcoa a new Exemption Order before its current operations have even been properly assessed doesn’t protect the environment, it protects Alcoa. Western Australians and our globally unique environment deserve better than that,” Ms Douglas said.
“What price are we really being asked to pay for impacts to Perth’s drinking water, biodiversity loss, and escalating climate impacts in the Northern Jarrah Forest? This isn't economic diversification; it's environmental vandalism.”
ENDS
About End Forest Mining
End Forest Mining is an alliance of groups, all working together for a shared purpose: to end bauxite mining in WA’s Northern Jarrah Forest. Our vision is for the state’s magnificent remaining jarrah forests to be safe from mining, and protected forever. For more information see endforestmining.org.au.
Imagery available here.
Media contact: John Cooke - 0433 679 780