[Greens-Media] Anvil Hill coal mine approval: major parties oppose Greens bill to overturn

[Alison Orme]

Media Release -  20 June 2007

Anvil Hill coal mine approval: major parties oppose Greens bill to
overturn

Greens MP Lee Rhiannon said both NSW Labor and the Opposition today
confirmed their support for the coal industry above combating climate
change by voting against debating her Save Anvil Hill Bill designed to
overturn the approval of this massive Hunter Valley mine. 

“The major parties missed another opportunity to halt climate change
by saying no to the massive Anvil Hill coal mine," said Ms Rhiannon.

"The Minister for Mineral Resources, Mr Tony Kelly, barely responded to
my call to debate the bill, merely stating the matter was not urgent and
would be opposed.

"The government talks climate change but walks its support for the coal
industry. 

"The Minister Assisting the Minister for Climate Change, Ms Verity
Firth, is a great example of the Iemma government's hypocrisy. 

"Minister Firth has shown no evidence of acting to meet public
commitments she has made to oppose the Anvil Hill mine. 

"As a City of Sydney Councillor Ms Firth voted for a motion opposing
the mine and as candidate for the State seat of Balmain she reaffirmed
this position in various public meetings. 

"Approving the Anvil Hill mine and the third Newcastle coal loader is
the head of a domino effect that will see a major expansion of the coal
industry in NSW. 

"The government's failure to halt the Anvil Hill coal mine means new
mines and extensions to existing mines that are now on Frank Sartor's
table could get the go ahead. 

"Based on calculations used by Sir Nicholas Stern the Anvil Hill coal
mine will ring up $54 billion worth of environmental and economic damage
from CO2 emissions.

"NSW is already facing lost trade opportunities by failing to build a
renewable energy sector, with China now bound by law to take 15 percent
of its energy from renewable energy sources by 2020.

"There is overwhelming economic analysis that shows acting now to halt
climate change is essential to contain the costs of damage from climate
change," Ms Rhiannon said.  

For more information:  Lee Rhiannon – 9230 3551, 0427 861 568


Alison Orme
Adviser, Greens MLC Lee Rhiannon (p/t Wed-Fri)
Macquarie St, Sydney 2000
Tel: +61-2-9230 3551 Fax: +61-2-9230 3550
Mobile: 0432 332 104
Email alison.orme at parliament.nsw.gov.au 
Web www.leerhiannon.org.au