Billionaire mining magnate Andrew ‘Twiggy’ Forrest has hit out at the Albanian government for approving multi-decade extensions for three coal mines.
Mr Forrest said the climate simply “cannot afford” more coal mines, while speaking to Karl Stefanovic of the Today Show on Wednesday.
Stefanovic asked the billionaire if the Albanese government is “hedging its bets” by extending mine operations in New South Wales and suggested Labor is “not particularly confident that renewables will do the job on their own”.
Forrest, a tycoon turned climate activist, accused Labour of failing to think about future generations when making decisions on coal.
“Look, I don’t actually know if you love your kids or not, man, but honestly, if you love your kids, I wouldn’t approve of coal mines,” he said.
“Basically, the planetary boundaries, which are already fully known to science, don’t tell us that we can approve more coal mines. If we worry about the cost of living, we’re going to have massive heat.
“Now, if we are worried about living standards now, when global warming really starts to affect us, it will be much worse. So, at least for the children, let’s not approve any more coal mines.”
On Tuesday, Labor gave the green light to decades-old expansions of two coal mines in the Hunter Valley and one near the northern edge of Pilliga National Park.
Andrew ‘Twiggy’ Forrest (pictured) criticised the Albanese government for extending the operations of three NSW coal mines in an interview on the Today show.
Mining operations are shown in Broken Hill, New South Wales.
The iron ore billionaire has put his heart and soul into developing green hydrogen technology, which he calls “the fuel of the future: pure, totally clean.”
Critics have derided the move as an attempt by the tycoon to cash in on the green economy, but the billionaire has stood by the unexpected turn.
“The good thing is that when you make a lot of money doing it, you can go home and look your kids straight in the eye, without a lump of guilt in your throat,” he previously said.
The three mines expanded by the federal government include MACH Energy’s Mount Pleasant upgrading project, Ashton Coal Operations’ Ravensworth underground mine and Whitehaven Coal’s Narrabri underground mine Stage 3 expansion project.
Forrest’s comments came on the same day that climate activists protested against coal mine expansions.
Rising Tide activists stopped a coal train bound for Newcastle port on Wednesday, unfurling a banner reading: “Albo: If you don’t stop new coal, WE WILL!”
The group posted a video showing activists standing on top of a train car packed to the brim with coal.
“We just stopped a train loaded with coal,” said one activist. “We climbed up to the top, dropped a big banner from the side and started shoveling some coal out.”
‘We are here today to send a message to the Albanian government because we are deeply outraged by the approval of three new thermal coal mines.’
Forrest’s comments came on the same day climate groups launched SNAP in response to the federal government’s decision (pictured, activists in Newcastle on Wednesday).
Meanwhile, sign-waving protesters gathered outside the election offices of Premier Anthony Albanese, Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek and Victorian MP Peter Khalil, demanding Labor reverse its decision.
Greens leader Adam Bandt criticised the approvals as “a betrayal of all those who voted for climate action”.
“To have any chance of meeting climate targets there can be no new coal or gas mines, but Labour has already approved 26 new coal and gas projects since coming to power,” Bandt said on Tuesday evening.
He said emissions were now higher than under the previous pro-coal coalition government and accused Labour of making “the climate crisis even worse”.
“You can’t put out a fire if you pour gasoline on it,” he said.
The approvals will add an additional 30 to 40 years to the mines’ operations and are estimated to generate nearly 2,000 jobs.
