The state government wants to hand Griffin Coal a “get out of jail free” card, according to the Conservation Council of WA (CCWA), with a five-year mining extension before Parliament today, including a rehabilitation and decommissioning 'release' clause.
In January, CCWA slammed the state government’s announcement to extend the State Agreement for Griffin Coal until 2031 as “keeping the dirtiest fossil fuel on life support at the expense of climate and nature”.
CCWA Executive Director Matt Roberts said the Bill, which will amend the State Agreement Act between the WA Government and Griffin Coal, contains the following clause: ‘Notwithstanding any law of the State including the EP Act, the State may agree to release the Company, in whole or in part, from its obligations and liabilities relating to decommissioning and rehabilitation under the State Agreement, the EP Act or otherwise’.
“In a nutshell, the state government can allow Griffin Coal to simply pack up and walk away from its operations, leaving WA taxpayers to foot the bill for the clean-up,” Mr Roberts said.
“It provides the state government with an option to declare land within, or adjacent to the mining areas to be removed from ‘state forest’ classification, as per below”.
The Summary of Amendment: ‘Allows (notwithstanding any law of the State including the CALM Act and the EP Act) the Minister (acting with the concurrence of the Minister for Environment and the Minister for Mines) to determine that land within or immediately proximate to the mining areas shall cease to be State forest and may have regard to the financial and technical capacity for the land to be rehabilitated to local species and the commercial, social and environmental implications of any proposed alternate end land use.’
“The decommissioning costs of state-owned coal power stations (Muja and Collie) is estimated at around $300 million. This involves sealing portals, removing infrastructure (conveyors, buildings), and remediating contaminated sites.”
Mr Roberts said it was disappointing that this decision was before Parliament following the WA government’s announcement last week that it was in ‘advanced planning’ with Synergy for a gas-fired power station to replace the Muja power station.
“What we’re seeing is one broken, highly polluting and untenable legacy industry in coal being replaced by another long-term, climate wrecking alternative.
“Gas power plants have an expected lifespan of 25-40 years, so WA could still be burning fossil fuels for electricity generation in 2070. Sadly, we see gas displacing renewables in Asia and we are calling on the Cook government not to let that happen in WA.
“Enough is enough. It’s time for the state government to raise climate ambition and phase out fossil fuels.
“WA is the only state without a 2030 emissions reduction target or a renewable energy target.
“What we need from the Premier is an announcement about a Climate Bill – with clear emissions reductions and legislated renewable energy targets to ensure we get the transition that West Australians have been asking for.
“These announcements would provide the long-term certainty that we all need in WA, and without these changes, we risk more rhetoric that doesn’t deliver on outcomes.
“Just last year, WA Premier Roger Cook said the government would not be funding Griffin beyond June 30, 2026. And yet here they are, pouring more money into the dirtiest of fossil fuels, while at the same time drafting plans for new gas-fired plants.
“Gas is not the answer to reducing emissions. In the 2022-2023 financial year, a report showed there were nine gas-powered facilities in WA that were more emissions-intensive than the Bluewaters coal-fired power stations.
“We have seen a commitment to a transition through the Collie Just Transition Plan. This includes the Collie Battery Project, a fantastic initiative and a great example of commitment to supporting workers impacted from the transition away from coal.
“Workers deserve a future that delivers secure jobs in new industries as we transition through the closure of Collie’s coal mines and power stations.”
ENDS
Media contact: John Cooke – 0433 679 780 – [email protected]