SPONSORED BY Page 1 •Fossil Fossil Fool Bulletin 4.02 • 8 December Fool 2020

KNITTING NANNAS AGAINST GAS Bulletin Fossil fools in the spotlight this week: A resource for people working to end the fossil fuel era in

Fossilfool.com.au FFB 4:02 • 8 DECEMBER 2020 Replacing Liddell with renewables cheaper and less polluting than fossil gas: RepuTex “The Federal Government’s obsession

sector investment in our energy sys- withtem. Economicsfossil gas is and undermining technology private have

ideology. overtaken the Federal Government’s

“It needs to drop the obsession with - gas, and let the market complete the clean replacement of Liddell – a transi tionenergy that supply.” is creating jobs for the Hunter and securing a lower cost, reliable stripes, and Australia’s major trading “Business,partners are state all ditchinggovernments coal and of all gas

forout.” renewables and storage because the economics overwhelmingly win Three scenarios - Liddell Power Station - The cheapest and lowest emis- With Liddell due to shut down com sions option to replace the Liddell pletely by April 2023, the report mod coal-burning power station in the – affordable, reliable and cleaner elled three scenarios for the National Electricity Market (NEM) to replace Hunter Valley is power. This report demonstrates that l Central Case: Current policies at clean energy backed up by storage, by continuing to add renewables and the 2000MW power station according to a new report by energy storage to NSW’s grid, the state will analytics firm RepuTex. enjoythan gas,” reliable senior power advisor that’s to cheaperthe Climate time of publication i.e 2.6 GW of new and muchEnergy better College for at the Melbourne environment Uni - renewables are added to the NEM by The report, commissioned by Green- l versity, Simon Holmes à Court said. July 2023; replacing the ageing and unreliable Market Solution: In addition to the peace Australia Pacific, shows that Central Case, the market builds an l “The closure of Liddell won’t be like additional Gas Solution: 1000MW In addition of renewables; to the Cen- Hunteris 17% cheaperValley power than replacingstation with Lid - Hazelwood. With only five months’ renewables backed up by batteries notice Hazelwood’s closure came as a emissions. surprise to the community, workers, tral Case, 1000MW of new peaking gas dell with gas and will result in fewer government and the power sector. The is added to the NEM by July 2023. Affordable, reliable, cleaner closure of Liddell, on the other hand, RepuTex’s analysis finds that the was announced in 2015 and AEMO’s renewable-powered market solution, modelling shows that the market is on solves the so-called ‘energy trilemma’ which would see 1000MW of new track to replace the lost capacity when renewable capacity built to replace “Renewables firmed with storage the early 1970’s era power station • Continued p2 retires in 2023.” • P2: IPC urged to • P3: Future of Pacific P3: Production gap reject Dendrobium rests on zero emissions highlighted Page 2 • Fossil Fool Bulletin 4.02 • 8 December 2020 Liddell’s future brighter IPC urged to reject Dendrobium with renewables mine’s destructive expansion • Continued from p1 A of groups fighting to protect the greater region’s Liddell, offers the best value for drinking water from coal mining drinking water as a result of a coal beneath the catchment are desper- mine expansion was unacceptable. moneyemissions. and makes the greatest ground beneath the catchment area impact on lowering Australia’s ately urging the Independent Plan- Under all three scenarios, reliability ning Commission to reject South32’s “South32’s plan to rip coal out of the exceeds the state’s Energy Security destructive Dendrobium expansion. will mean we will lose drinking water Commissioners held a three-day as if it’s going through a sieve,” he said. must surely realise that this is not in Target after the closure of Liddell. - “An independent umpire like the IPC Greenpeace Australia Pacific Head hearing into the proposal last week. If the interestsDendrobium of the mine. wider population, of Research and Investigations, Dr approved, the longwall mining oper or the fragile swamps that sit above Nikolathat clean Casule energy said should the RepuTex be at the ation would drain up to an additional “So much damage has already been report builds on growing evidence 5.2 million litres of water each day done to these precious and unique driven by the declining cost and from Lake Cordeaux and Lake Avon. environmental areas - Commission- centre of federal energy policy, Commissioners and again slammed Earlier, WaterNSW staff met with IPC destruction.” - increasing reliability of renewables. ers must not allow more irreparable Coal, gas obsolete South32’sedented impacts current on proposal, the catchment”. noting, - - “this project was likely to have unprec Mine presents extensive dangers Protect Our Water Alliance spokesper “This new report shows conclu - son Rada Germanos said, “Longwall sively that renewable energy is the Particular concerns raised by the mining causes cracks and subsidence best option for replacing Austra agency included the threat posed by that will have a devastating impact on “Subsidence can also cause prob- lia’san expensive, coal-burning unnecessary power stations. diver- the proposal to endangered ecological the water catchment. Building new gas infrastructure is lems for built infrastructure like sion that won’t reduce emissions. swamps, the sheer amount of drinking- dams, roads and buildings. South32’s Replacingmachine – coalthey’re with both gas obsoleteis like water that would be drained from the application means that there will be replacingtechnologies a typewriter that no longer with meeta fax catchment, and the likelihood of exten longwall mining 300 metres from Avon Australia’s energy needs. sive stream fracturing, - Reservoir and less than 700 metres WaterNSW also argued South32 had “In the coming years, more and Coalfrom market Cordeaux drying Reservoir.” up more ageing and unreliable not “sufficiently considered alterna tive“are minestill outstanding designs that questions would reduce about the height of fracturing” and there coal-burning power stations like Illawarra Residents for Responsible Liddellbecome will too closeexpensive as they to nearmaintain. the whether the groundwater model which Mining spokesperson Deidre Stuart end of their operating lives and provides the predictions of surface said,be exported. “If the Dendrobium Yet our main expansion export mar - water losses actually provides accurate goes ahead, most of the coal mined will worst case predictions”. countries have set ambitious climate - “The operator of Australia’s grid, kets are likely to dry up, because these As well, the decision by South32 to AEMO, has already found that we and metallurgical coal are also volatile. proceed with a plan to conduct contro cangas. move to a renewable-powered targets. Global prices for both thermal versial long wall mining is at odds with grid without the need for any new are becoming insecure and in decline. aAssessment recommendation Commission. made by the former These factors mean that mining jobs version of the IPC, the NSW Planning “We are seeing more and more “With a new Renewable Energy - Zone slated for the Hunter that ment mining company Wollongong It recommended against fellow catch- is set to create hundreds of jobs, workersconditions. being Mine put expansions onto short aren’t term the a renewable energy replacement contracts,solution to and this an problem. erosion of pay and for Liddell sets the region up for a Coal’sposed longwallby the controversial project at nearby mining Rus “The Federal Government needs to bright future. sell Vale due to the risk of subsidence - has since pledged never to propose method in 2016. Wollongong Coal “People in Wollongong are backing the support the best way to secure Aus again. shift to renewable energy – we could tralia’s energy supply, bring down longwall mining inside the catchment have a future with green hydrogen and prices and create future-proof jobs, green steel. Wollongong is proud of its replacingsolar,” said coal Dr Casule.and gas with clean mining heritage, but we need to secureF Lock the Gate Alliance spokesperson energy technology like wind and our future.” • Download the report here: Nic Clyde said the loss of so much https://act.greenpeace.org.au/Liddell-Closure-Report See past editions of Fossil Fool Bulletin at F https://knitting-nannas.org/ (under the Resources tab) Page 3 • Fossil Fool Bulletin 4.02 • 8 December 2020 Future of Pacific nations rests Production gap on net-zero emissions by 2040 highlighted Australia’s inadequate climate policies could see the world heat by almost four degrees by 2100 but the ment’sdate.” 1.5 degrees pathway – which worst can be avoided for parts of the this report shows it has not done to - Pacific if Australia and other major emitters adopt a net-zero emissions ratchet mechanism, through the by 2040 target, according to a new This would require a serious engage report by Greenpeace. ment with the Paris Agreement’s submission of increasingly stringent projected to heat by a median estimate reductionoutcomes: targets that would deliver Under current policies, the world is the following emissions reduction l of 2.9 degrees by 2100, with a possible- l range of 2.1 to 3.9 degrees Celsius, the Net zero emissions by 2040 Te Mana o Te Moana: State of the Cli 40-60% reduction by 2025 from mate in the Pacific 2020 report states. l - 2000 levels To limit warming to 1.5°C or well Greenpeace’s Head of Pacific, Joseph below 2°C, as required by the 2015 60-80% reduction by 2030 from Paris Agreement, the world needs Moeono-Kolio said Pacific Island coun 2000 levels tries were already facing severe harm reduction targets, Gov- to wind down fossil fuel produc- from climate change at the current 1.1 “Asernment well as must increasing heed the emissions unambiguous tion. Instead, governments con- degreesunless there of heating, is an immediate and warned and that steep tinue to plan to produce coal, oil, many islands could face obliteration and gas far in excess of the levels desire of Pacific leaders and outline consistent with the Paris Agree- reduction in emissions from major clear policies on how targets will be ment temperature limits. carbon emitters like Australia. met,mines, including and commitment a moratorium to the on Green new exporter, the 14th largest emitter coal-burningClimate Fund,” power Greenpeace stations Australia and coal “Australia is the world’s largest coal Gap – highlights the discrepancy - A new report – The Production in the world and the biggest carbon F Pacific Head of Research and Investiga between countries’ planned fossil emitter in the Pacific region, by far. tions, Dr Nikola Casule said. This report shows that Australia must fuel production levels and the global commit to net-zero by 2040 in order drops levels necessary to limit warming to to avoid more catastrophic bushfire dodgy Kyoto credits 1.5°C or 2°C. This gap is large, with seasons at home and more powerful countries aiming to produce 120% cyclones in the Pacific,” he said. In response to Prime Minister more fossil fuels by 2030 than - Scott Morrison announcing that would be consistent with limiting “Australia’s pitiful emissions reduction global warming to 1.5°C. Australia will drop the plan to use associated response measures have target has been categorised as ‘Insuf dodgy Kyoto credits to meet its the same approach as Australia it The COVID-19 pandemic and ficient’ by Climate Action Tracker. This Paris climate target, Greenpeace means that if all other nations adopted Australia Pacific spokesperson introduced new uncertainties to the Nelli Stevenson said: would lock in between 2 and 3 degrees productionthis year, government gap. While stimulus global fossil and ofthe heating, least but which is among would the be nations disastrous “The has long fuel production will decline sharply forimpacted the Pacific, the most which by contributes climate damage recovery measures will shape our - “This injustice must be addressed by beenup its shamed gross inaction on the globalon climate stage for climate future: they could prompt a itschange. use of For dodgy the accountingpast seven years,to cover returndisruption, to pre-COVID or they could production set the tra - jectories that lock in severe climate the world’s biggest carbon emitters increasing their efforts to fix the prob allpropping we have up seen the coal,from oilthe and Morrison gas stage for a managed wind-down of lem they have created for the rest of Government is inaction, waffle, and fossil fuels as part of a “build back the world. their island homes and the cultures change. better” effort. so intrinsically tied to them but it industries responsible for climate “Pacific people can still protect “Australia needs a strong, Federal This special issue of the Production climate policy, not a Federal govern- Gap Report looks at how conditions the challenge and concerted action at - have changed since last year, what requires a recognition of the scale of ing being done by states, territories, this means for the production gap, - ment kicking back on the heavy lift and how governments can set the the global level right now. stage for a long-term, just, and equi “Asregion, one itof is the in majorAustralia’s powers interest in the to do and businesses who are getting on •table Download transition the report away at: from fossil Pacific,all it can with to reduce strategic its interestsnational emisin the- with the job of moving to safe and fuels.

- reliable 100% renewable energy.”F http://productiongap.org/2020report F sions in line with the Paris Agree Page 4 • Fossil Fool Bulletin 4.02 • 8 December 2020

David Rowe reproduced with permission: Inside the news https://www.facebook.com/david.rowe.5070 , Barnaby Joyce and David Gillespie reassured coun- try people that the National Party coal and gas, not farms, as they dressed up in miners’ hi-vis stands for

costumesaround a coal in late mine November and party (p10- donor 11). They paraded themselves in the Hunter Valley. Joyce also Trever St Baker’s coal power station

owns land under a gas tenement in The three fossil fools have western NSW.

launched a petition calling for a new coal-poweredsignatures to date. HELE plant in the Hunter, which has attracted 1,300

Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney, Bris- Daysbane later,and regional hundreds centres of people rallied in fossilfool.com.au - intion support to Santos’s of Aboriginal $3.6bn gasfieldtraditional in owners to voice their strong opposi Gamilaraay Gomeroi cultural ties GREEN PIGEON GRAPHICSGREEN PIGEON GRAPHICSGREEN PIGEONwestern NSW, GRAPHICS which will devastate to sacred and significant heritage Knit- sites (p8-9). PROUD SUPPORTER OF ting Nannas Against Gas, such as THE FOSSIL FOOL BULLETIN They had support from the those in Lismore pictured below by GreenPigeonGraphics [email protected] Gwilym Summers.

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Fossil Fool Fossil Fool Bulletin is free to read, but not free to produce. The editor works Bulletin un-waged, but costs include news subscriptions, computer, software, Published by Eve Sinton internet and office expenses. PO Box 555, Mullumbimby, Protesters also appeared at an India NSW 2482, Australia Donations to publisher Focus Publications State Bank Fossil Fool Bulletin are invited. vsof IndiaAustralia not cricketto give matchAdani ata $1 the bil - Whether a one-off or regular, $5 or $500, SCG (p5) calling on the [email protected] Mine development in Australia’s [email protected] you can help keep this publication in action. lionGalilee loan Basin. to further its Carmichael To subscribe free, click here: (Note: donations are not tax deductible.) https://knitting-nannas.org/bulletins.php fossil fuels As powerful vested interests push Bank details: Focus Publications harderliveable than ever planet before, BSB: 062 578 peopleand a government power is essential that’s tonot show for Account number: 10343666 themsale. we want a ABN:$ 24857882603 F Page 5 • Fossil Fool Bulletin 4.02 • 8 December 2020 In the news this week This week Fossil Fool Bulletin has summarised 19,700 words of news for your convenience. Click on the links or copy and paste to browser to view original articles. (Subscriptions may be required) THE ADANI SAGA protesters-invade-pitch-during-india-australia-odi-appeal-to- https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/watch-anti-adani- Anti-Adanisbi-to-bowl-out-adani-loan protesters invade pitch during India-Australia ODI, appeal to SBI to ‘bowl out Adani loan’ National Herald of India, 27/11/2020

Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani in The growing public sentiment against

Australia came to the fore at Sydney Cricket Ground, where the first ODI between India and Australia was being played, on Friday when two protestors holding placards which read “State Bank of India: No $1 BN Adani Loan’ made their way into the field. “Millions of Indian taxpayers who are watching the first game of the Indian cricket tour have a right to know that the - State Bank of India is considering handing- their taxes to a billionaire’s climate-wreck ing coal mine,” a statement from the Twit ter handle of ‘Stop Adani’ campaign read. amount to handing over Indian taxpayers’ A protester against the State Bank of India’s proposed loan to Adani on the field at Protesters alleged that the loan would the SCG. Photo: Twitter - money to Adani to dig a coal mine, which - no bank in the world has so far been will- ing to fund. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-12-02/adani-fined-by-fed COAL ROCKS ON eral-department-environmental-carmichael-coal/12942440 A spokesperson of the ‘Stop Adani’ cam Mining company Bravus, formerly Adani, https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/nov/25/ paign, Manjot Kaur, who is a university fined for ‘misinterpreting’ environmental more-than-60-australian-coal-carrying-ships-kept-waiting-to- studentquoted as and saying former by schoolthe media striker that from the SBI approval conditions Moreunload-off-ports-in-china than 60 Australian coal-carrying the central west coal region in NSW was Lily Nothling, ABC, 02/12/2020 ships kept waiting to unload off ports needs to ‘bowl out’ Adani’s loan and ‘swing in China the bat for a safe future for Indians’. Daniel Hurst & Helen Davidson, Guardian, - Mining“misinterpreting” company Adani, environmental now known approval 25/11/2020 https://inqld.com.au/business/2020/12/01/whos-the-boss-lu asconditions Bravus, hasat its paid Carmichael a $26,000 coal fine mine for in cas-dow-returns-to-the-power-seat-at-adani/ Who’s the boss: Lucas Dow returns to the central . power seat at Adani The Federal Environment Department More than 60 ships carrying Australian John McCarthy, In Queensland, 01/12/2020 coal have been stranded at sea – some for- months – while waiting to enter Chinese issuedits species the companymanagement two plan.infringement ports,long delays. according to analysts, with the Mor notices in October for failing to implement rison government being urged to clarify the Adani’s one-time chief executive Lucas The Department said the mining giant Dow is back in the executive suites after according to the global commodity and being appointed as country head and chief Dozensenergy priceof vessels reporting are being agency kept Argus, waiting, executive of Adani Australia. cleared land without surveying the area within an appropriate timeframe. species management measures as a result An Argus representative told Guardian It follows a mysterious five months during which has been tracking the situation. whichas Bravus, Dow only stood to downbe appointed as chief asexecutive a direc- It said the company also failed to revise its - of Australian mining business, now known lia as long ago as May and many had been move. of ecological surveys. Australia some of those vessels left Austra tor. No explanation has been given for that In a statement, a Bravus spokesperson said Beijing appeared to be “singling out Austra- - waiting in Chinese waters since September. byit had the paidDepartment the $25,920 in relation fine. to a pre- Dow’s reappointment follows the depar “Two minor compliance issues were raised turebusiness Jeyakumar in Singapore. Janakaraj, who better days, and an updated species management lian coking coal imports”, Argus said, with 86% of the coking coal waiting outside the known as JJ, to head up the Adani global - clearance survey which had expired by 24 - Chinese ports of Jingtang and Caofeidian coming from Australia. Lucas Dow will also continue to be a direc plan not being submitted within the three- tor of Omni Resources. month window required, following a pre The details come after Bloomberg clearance survey,” the spokesperson said. reported 66 vessels loaded with Australian coal were positioned in Chinese waters, including 53 that had been waiting about Page 6 • Fossil Fool Bulletin 4.02 • 8 December 2020

- reduce their exposure to carbon,” he said. rial at China’s ports. four weeks or longer to offload the mate In the second, the plant’s operators were - found guilty of pollution offences. Chinesepared to importsthe same of time Australian last year. coking coal The International Transport Workers’ The court fined the companies a combined fell by more than 20% in October com Federation had publicised the case of the total of more than $1.9 million. - Indian-flagged Jag Anand, which arrived at China’s trade disputes with Australia now - the port of Jingtang in northern China in https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-11-20/dartbrook-coal-ap spantors. In$20 mid-November billion in exports the Chineseacross the embassy coal, proval-dealt-blow-horsebreeders-join-legal-case/12900050 mid-June but had been waiting five months Thoroughbred breeders can join legal wine, seafood, timber, barley and cotton sec to be allowed to berth. case, halting approval of Dartbrook coal the to change course After the federation raised fears of a mine in NSW Hunter released a list of 14 grievances and urged humanitarian crisis, given the 23 Indian Jake Lapham, ABC, 20/11/2020 on its foreign policy positions. seafarerstroubling, aboard particularly the vessel because were it goesfatigued, - Birmingham said the case was “deeply A proposal to resume operations at a moth- https://www.smh.com.au/environment/sustainability/de - balled underground coal mine in the NSW mand-drop-closes-coal-mine-as-neighbour-seeks-approval- beyond the mere question of trade and to-expand-20201205-p56kvr.htmlDemand drop closes coal mine as involves the question, of course, of individ neighbour seeks approval to expand uals who have found themselves at sea for Hunter Valley has been dealt a setback, a prolonged period of time”. with the Land and Environment Court Peter Hannam, SMH, 06/12/2020 refusing to rubber stamp its approval. Jo Clarke, a correspondent for Argus, said the queue of vessels loaded with Australian Australian Pacific Coal had reached an coal had been growing over the past couple agreement with the Independent Planning The future of the two main coal mines of months. Commission (IPC), earlier this month, for digging under Sydney’s water catchment an extension of its mining license through hangs in the balance with one closing for “We see around 65 coal vessels [with to 2027, paving the way for operations to Thetwo monthsMetropolitan because mine of weakrun by demand struggling and Australian coal] waiting off Chinese ports, resume. The mine near Muswellbrook has the other seeking approval to expand. with around 19 of those being the larger been mothballed for 14 years after it closed Capesize vessels, with capacity of around due to fire and fatalities. 175,000tonnes,” shetonnes, said. and the rest the smaller giant Peabody Energy will be shut from Panamaxes, with capacity of 75,000 But a successful last-ditch legal challenge January 4 for eight weeks with miners being- fromjoin proceedings the Hunter Thoroughbredas a party, preventing Breeders the offered “access to paid leave”. The nearby Association (HTBA) will allow them to South32-owned Dendrobium mine con “We have not heard of any vessels being In the Land and Environment Court, Justice Peabodycluded four told days its Community of public hearing Consultative on Friday asked to leave and is difficult to on-sell the court from ratifying the earlier agreement. over plans to extend its life out to 2048. cargoes, so the ships are anchored, waiting.” - https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-11-26/cfa-v-hazelwood- Duggan accepted some aspects of that - Committee on Tuesday the coronavirus was CFAover-mine-fire/12922696 seeks $18.1m from owners of the revised proposal may have been so differ to blame for the temporary closure, with Hazelwood power station for 2014 joinent from proceedings the original, on that that basis. it could consti the company planning to review conditions mine fire tute a new proposal, and allowed HTBA to during the shutdown. The company spokeswoman, however, Jarrod Whittaker, ABC, 27/11/2020 The decision means Australian Pacific Coal dismissed what she described as “rumours Intensenow face community a significant interest hurdle has in gaining sur- around our financial position” that might approval for the license extension. affect Peabody’s ability to meet obligations The Country Fire Authority’s efforts to to rehabilitate the mine once it is finally shut. recovera Supreme the Court cost of trial putting starting out nextthe 2014 year. rounded the Dartbrook mine since it was Last month, Peabody – the world’s largest Hazelwood mine fire will be considered at - acquired by Australian Pacific Coal in 2016. privatedebt obligations coal company over the– warned next year. that there was “substantial doubt” it could meet its The CFA is seeking $18.1 million plus inter https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/australian-coal-exports-html face-perfect-storm-as-china-restrictions-hit-20201130-p56j9b. est from the Hazelwood Power Corporation- Australian coal exports face ‘perfect Peabody’sexpand its perilsDendrobium contrast mine with so South it can 32, and four related companies for the fire which is pressing ahead with plans to which started on February 9 when a bush storm’ as China restrictions hit fire entered the Latrobe Valley coal mine Eryk Bagshaw & Anthony Galloway, SMH, Peterextract Turner, another the 78 mining million projects tonnes scienceof coal and burnt for 45 days. 01/12/2020 within the Special Areas region. Inunder its statement the Country of claim,Fire Authority the CFA wantsRegula - said Metropolitan’s troubles only high- Hazelwood’s owners to pay for its services officer for the National Parks Association, Australian coal exports face a GFC-style- tions Act 2004. threatnese import to their restrictions, viability, one reduced of the demandcountry’s lightedproject “theshould economic not proceed. fragility of mining The Hazelwood Power Station and its top insolvency experts will claim as Chi beneath the catchment” and the South32 co-defendants argue that the CFA was carrying out its duty in fighting the fire and McGrathNicol’sand funding for chairmanrenewables Jason wipes Preston out key - markets. In Peabody’s case, a failure of the company there is no liability to pay a fee. - would raise questions over who would pay TheServices defendants Levy imposed also argue on landin their in Victoria state for the necessary remediation of damage ment of claim that they pay the annual Fire will on Tuesday say the escalation of Chi downMetropolitan to the Eastern mine. Tributary, quite apart na’s trade restrictions completes “a perfect Drfrom Turner the long-term described costs the Dendrobiumof closing the exten - to help fund Victoria’s firefighting services. storm” for coal exporters, as dozens of shipsunable carrying to unload up their to $700 cargo. million worth of sion as a “diabolical proposal” that ran the The matter will return to court on Friday, coal remain stranded off the Chinese coast February 12 2021. risk of causing the permanent loss of water Last year, the Supreme Court found the “It comes on top of COVID dampening coal as cracks extend from the extracted coal Hazelwood power station’s owners guilty- demand, fiscal stimulus policies being seam, diverting water away from dams and in two separate criminal trials related to directedgovernance to competing policies causing renewable investors energy to drying out important swamps above. the fire. In the first, a jury found the own and [environmental, social, and corporate] - ers guilty of putting the staff and the public In the future, as sealed mines fill with the in danger as a result of the fire. water there would also be the risk of con Page 7 • Fossil Fool Bulletin 4.02 • 8 December 2020

nearby dams supplying the Greater Sydney https://au.news.yahoo.com/federal-green-light-nsw-gas-project- taminantsregion. reaching the surface and entering Federal194753949--spt.html green light for NSW gas project “Australia does not need new gas, and a majority of Australians don’t want it.” Matt Coughlan, Yahoo!News, 25/11/2020 - https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/nov/26/tos-plans-remain-uncertain-opponents-say OIL & GAS LEAKS The Morrison government has approved a narrabri-gas-project-should-not-have-been-approved-while-san - Narrabri gas project should not have https://www.nvi.com.au/story/7026963/barilaro-com been approved while Santos plans mits-to-town-wide-narrabri-activation-precinct/ controversialseam project togas go field ahead. in northwest NSW, Deputy Premier John Barilaro commits paving the way for the $3.6 billion coal remain uncertain, opponents say to a Narrabri special activation precinct Federal Environment Minister - Lisa Cox & Graham Readfearn, Guardian, Andrew Messenger, Namoi Valley 26/11/2020 Independent, 24/11/2020 saidcoal seamher approval gas. was based on the Com Deputy Premier John Barilaro has com- monwealth’s expert science committee on gas project say it should not have been mitted to developing a special activation - Opponentsapproved given of Santos’s the company $3.6bn has Narrabri not precinct in Narrabri. “I am satisfied that the conditions, and the stagedshe said nature on Tuesday. of work in the area, will safe guard the biodiversity of the Pilliga Forest,” explained which parts of the Pilliga forest will be cleared or finished investigating Barilaro said his Department of Regional go-ahead to build its Narrabri project over what it would mean for local groundwater. NSW would take carriage of investigating Oil and gas giant Santos has been given the Ley, announced on Tuesday the govern- Thement federal had approved environment the controversial minister, Sussan how to develop the project, which will - grazing land. cover the entire town. 95,000 hectares in the forest and nearby An investigation into the scope of the proj development, which would involve up to ect will take 18 months. But he committed It involves drilling 850 new gas wells over 850 gas wells being drilled in grazing land that shovels would hit the ground during Federal approval conditions to protect 20 years. and forest in northern NSW. “this term of government” – before 2023. community members opposed to the proj- The anti-mining group Lock the Gate and The announcement comes after gas water in the area include an early warning despite continuing uncertainty about the company Santos won state approval for a system with ongoing bore-monitoring to ect said the gas field had been approved $3.6bn coal seam gas project outside the identify potential groundwater issues. town in September. A chemical risk assessment framework will effect it would have on the environment. Combined with the national Inland Rail be in place for coal seam gas operations. Concerns were also been raised about how Port, set to run through the town, Barilaro the project would affect several threatened saidNSW”. the two projects could turn the region Santos will also be bound to stop work at- gasment wells conditions if a groundwater must be met. exceedance is species and impact koala habitat. into one of “the economic hubs of regional - predicted, while 134 other state govern Barilaro said Narrabri’s Inland Port project - https://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/7030493/gas-ter minal-signs-a-deal-for-12-kilometre-pipeline/ In a previous announcement in the town, Gas terminal signs a deal for Local farmer Scott McCalman said land holders across the Narrabri district were 12-kilometre pipeline could be the most significant site on the- route of the national Inland Rail project. furious about the approval. Glen Humphries, Illawarra Mercury, 27/11/2020 Standingtogether gaveoutside the Wilga region Park all the power ingredients sta “It is frankly disgusting that state and - tion, the MP told media the two projects federal governments would just write off - 23,000 submissions against this destruc necting the Port Kembla Gas Terminal to - to attract new business. tivehe said. gas field and ignore the science that A 12-kilometre pipeline will be built con Resourcesshows it will Minister threaten Keith our Pitt groundwater,” said Santos Thehouse inland the proposed port will ammoniumdevelop a large nitrate indus and the east coast gas network. trial precinct and freight exchange and - Squadronthe gas terminal Energy and - owned announced by billionaire the deal bakingproject. soda manufacturing hubs Santos hadtion linkedphase. 200 jobs directly to the project Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest – is developing said could follow development of its gas with a further 1300 roles in the construc with Jemena on Friday.

The inland port is expected to create 1000 Traditionalproject. owner Polly Cutmore said Theinner news harbour comes at onPort the Kembla. back of The Squadron pipeline jobs on its own. Gomeroi people would continue to fight the signing a 25-year lease for a site in the Independent Planning Commission doesn’t the Eastern Gas Pipeline at Cringila. Stateelectricity government and communications money will help connec pay for- will run around the harbour and connect to essentialtions that infrastructure operators need including to relocate water, close “Scott Morrison doesn’t decide for us, the- - to the Inland Rail route. try,” she said. “Wedecide do, for not us them. what These happens policies on our and coun pro- Squadronpipeline agreement Energy said, secured, “Now thewith Port an agreeKem- mentbla Gas for Terminal long term remains tenure the for onlythe site project and a

Narrabri-based energy consultant Rowan - the NSW state government to overcome cedures are just to suit white men, not us.” Boehm,and the Northwho opposes West”. the gas project, said tute’s climate director Richie Merzian said in the eastern states capable of assisting renewable energy “is the future for NSW Left-leaning think tank the Australia Insti energy security and reliability. predicted gas shortages by 2024.” “The NSW Government’s own roadmap Thethe project Climate would Council’s do nothing Lesley Hughes to improve said https://www.smh.com.au/national/narrabri-gas-project-goes- defines this very clearly, and it also very the government should instead be helping against-all-commercial-odds-20201126-p56i33.html clearly does not identify the need for a - Narrabri gas project goes against all commercial odds yearsmajor ago, gas hubbut that’sfor the not region.” the case today.” able energy. Australia become a world leader in renew Madeline Taylor, SMH, 27/11/2020 “Gas might have been the right direction- 50

Heindustry”. said the “energy hub” is just a smoke “The Narrabri project will have devastating environmental approval comes, jarringly, in screen “for a last hurrah for the gas impacts on local biodiversity and water The news of the Narrabri gas project’s final resources, and will accelerate dangerous climate change,” Professor Hughes said. the same week that the NSW government Page 8 • Fossil Fool Bulletin 4.02 • 8 December 2020

With most potential gas sites located in pushed through its landmark Electricity - to become a “net-zero” emitter by 2040. Infrastructure Investment Bill. This bill - Managing director Kevin Gallagher will regional Australia, more gas projects will supports a 20-year roadmap for the deliv - outline new targets at an investor briefing inevitably lead to more land use conflicts ery of 12 gigawatts of renewable genera on Tuesday including a 26-30% reduction landfor farmers. is covered by Petroleum Explora- tion and two gigawatts of “deep” long-dura of its direct emissions by 2030 based on Large chucks of the nation’s agricultural tion storage, while stimulating $32 billion large2020 Australianlevels. oil and gas producer to of private sector investment by 2030 and The company will also become the first tion Licences, including 33.2% of grazing saving NSW households an average of $130- land,13.1% of irrigated cropping and on their electricity bills from 2023. Report author and AFI executive director gling to prove commercial viability. Santos emissionstarget a goal by of purchasing net-zero emissions nature-based by 2040. Richard12.9% of Heath dryland said cropping. a gas-led recovery New gas projects are increasingly strug Gallagher said Santos would mitigate its - gas investments this year alone, leaving - has written $1.1 billion off the value of its offsetsable energy such andas tree-planting utilise carbon programs, capture and would come “at a compromise to agricul accelerate the deployment of more renew ture”job gained and pointing in the gas to sector.research that showed questionsproject. as to whether the company will 1.8 jobs were lost in the ag sector for every be able to fund the $3.6 billion Narrabri- storageemitted (CCS)into the technology atmosphere. to trap and bury Thecarbon company’s dioxide undergroundstrengthened beforetargets it come was Quirindi farmer Peter Wills found himself Despiteguaranteed a pledge to provide by Santos energy to keepsecurity Nar indiscovered the middle the of Hunter-Queensland a land use conflict after Gas rabri gas for the NSW market, it is not taking over the family farm, when he gas reservation regulation. There is also ascheapest it nears CCS a final projects investment at its Moomba decision gas to forno legallythe state, binding as there reservation is no NSW condition domestic give the go-ahead for one of the world’s Pipeline would run through his property. - “They’re essentially forcing me to go into Planning Commission approval conditions plant in South Australia. After completing attachedto Narrabri to thegas federalproduction. or Independent business with them to put a gas pipeline- on thedepleted final field gas reservoir trial, successfully in the Cooper inject Basin, my farm,” Wills said. ing 100 tonnes of carbon dioxide into a “I will have to wear any long-term dam It could be more likely that Narrabri gas Santos is now waiting for the Clean Energy age to my land value. I certainly wouldn’t willsuch instead as Victoria. be sold at a premium to the Regulator to finalise the methodology for want to buy property with a pipeline going through it and I am being forced to own Therehighest are bidder other – options likely southern to secure states, energy CCS to qualify for federal carbon credits, which would be needed for the project to one if it ever goes ahead.” approved Port Kembla Gas LNG terminal stack up economically. Wills said a gas-led recovery will mean gas-led-recovery-to-cost-ag-jobs-and-increase-land-use-con- moreland. farmers fighting to stop companies security for the NSW gas market. The https://www.queenslandcountrylife.com.au/story/7034408/ - from building gas infrastructure on their is under construction, with a 25-year lease- Gas-ledflicts/ recovery would cost ag jobs and withjoules NSW a day, Ports. sourced It will either inject internationally 100 peta increase land use conflicts, Australian joules of gas a year in NSW, or 500 tera https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/dec/03/narrabri-gas-project Farm Institute says hundreds-rally-in-australian-capital-cities-against-the-36bn- gas projects at a comparatively cheaper Hundreds rally in Australian capital or domestically from existing large-scale Jamieson Murphy, Qld Country Life, per gigajoule. 01/12/2020 cities against the $3.6bn Narrabri price to the Narrabri Gas Project of $6-8 gas project Lorena Allam, Guardian, 03/12/2020 Perhapscreate a gasof most precinct concern near is Narrabri the NSW to A gas-led recovery would come at a cost - government announcement that it will to farmers by reducing agricultural jobs - bourne, Sydney and Brisbane have rallied no other pending petroleum production whiletute says. increasing land use conflicts, a new Hundreds of people in , Mel streamline further gas approvals. There are briefing paper by the Australian Farm Insti in support of Aboriginal traditional owners licence applications for unconventional gas exploitation in NSW. The development of the four Narrabri petroleum production licences will signal a positive political environmentother NSW unconventional for petroleum gasdevelopers basins on to further exploit the Gunnedah Basin and despite considerable environmental and the basis of the “public interest”. This is communityagricultural oppositionareas. to the social effects •of Dr gas Madeline production Taylor in is highly an expert productive in energy and natural resources law at Sydney Law School and the Sydney Environment Institute at .

- https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/santos-tar gets-net-zero-emissions-by-2040-as-climate-pressure-grows- Santos20201130-p56j6h.html targets net-zero emissions by 2040 as climate pressure grows Nick Toscano, SMH, 01/12/2020 Gomeroi people took their fight against Santos’ Narrabri gasfield to the front steps of Parliament in Canberra on December 3. “We the Gomeroi will stand strong and keep our fight burning until Santos are evicted off our sacred lands!” they said. - Photo: Moree Ecological Holistic Information Centre, Facebook Santos, one of the nation’s largest oil and gas companies, will target deeper emis sions cuts in the next decade with a goal Page 9 • Fossil Fool Bulletin 4.02 • 8 December 2020 to voice their strong opposition to San- price controls and schemes to set aside CLIMATE CRISIS

could impede the very investment needed - tos’s $3.6bn gas project in western NSW, - a certain amount of gas for local buyers https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/nov/25/ing-one-nation-amendments whichcant heritage they say sites. will devastate Gamilaraay nsw-upper-house-passes-renewable-electricity-bill-after-reject NSW upper house passes renewable Gomeroi cultural ties to sacred and signifi EnergyQuest,to bring on new commissioned supply. by the Austra- Cutmore told the Canberra rally: “We are Thelian Petroleumresearch from Production energy consultancy & Exploration electricity bill after rejecting One Nation The Gomeroi traditional owner Polly amendments loves and respects Gomeroi country to let AAP/Guardian, 25/11/2020 calling on all our mob and anyone who Association (APPEA), examined gas market policies of 20 major gas-producing nations - these politicians know they don’t make APPEAaccounting represents for more the than nation’s 70% largestof the oil decisions for us. world’s gas production. New South Wales upper house MPs have and gas giants including Woodside, Santos, finally passed renewable electricity legisla “Sussan Ley has not taken notice of the tion after a marathon parliamentary sitting “Shemajority has ignoredof people us, who the live scientists, on Gomeroi the in which almost 250 One Nation-proposed country and oppose this gasfield. Origin, BHP, Shell, BP and Jemena. The government upper house leader - Damienamendments Tudehope were onrejected. Tuesday suspended enough.” https://www.afr.com/companies/energy/santos-may-im the Legislative Council’s midnight adjourn- Publicfarmers, response so many to people, the development and we’ve hadhas Santosport-carbon-dioxide-waste-to-moomba-20201204-p56kqj may import carbon dioxide waste - to Moomba mentinvestment to work bill. through the 249 amend been overwhelmingly opposed. The NSW Angela Macdonald-Smith, AFR, 07/12/2020 ments to the electricity infrastructure Department of Planning, Industry and Santos’ planned carbon capture and stor- Environment received nearly 23,000 age project at its Moomba gas plant has The amendments were put forward by- One submissions. Almost 98% were opposed Nation’sported by Mark the Coalition Latham in government, an attempt toLabor on a range of grounds, including that it thwartopposition the bill’sand Greens. passage, which is sup could damage groundwater relied on for attracted interest from South Korea and NSW deputy premier John Barilaro on agriculture, lead to a loss of pressure in the Japan,permanent and raised disposal the at possibility the South of Australian carbon Wednesday told reporters the policy had Greatgreenhouse Artesian gas Basin, emissions. affect biodiversity in dioxide being imported into Australia for the Pilliga forest and release substantial - The deals depend on CCS becoming eligible tion and the Greens. site at world-beating low costs. - to generate Australian Carbon Credit Units, the full support of the government, opposi “[Ley] should meet with us and tell us - put up amendments and go through the directly why she has ignored 23,000 sub ment. “Mark Latham has his democratic right to missionssaid. opposing this gasfield, and why something under discussion within govern she is relying on Santos’s word,” Cutmore In Brisbane, more than a hundred people the overseas parties have not been dis- democraticdebate those process amendments,” of the House, he said. and we protested outside Santos Place in the CBD, Whileclosed, the they details could of potentially the agreements mean thosewith as the government and crossbench will parties acquire tradeable carbon credits Melbourne. while rallies were also held in Sydney and TheChristmas lower houseperiod, will so thatbe recalled it can vote on Fridayon the afternoon,amended energy after earlier bill. breaking for the that could count towards their emissions At the Sydney rally, the Gomeroi woman reduction obligations back home. Tameeka Tighe told the crowd: “I’m here to Chief executive Kevin Gallagher said Santos tell you, this land is the law, and we’ve been had also been asked to investigate taking https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/dec/01/ here since the beginning of time and we’re three-quarters-of-australians-back-target-of-net-zero-by-2030- - CO2 waste from other parts of the world. guardian-essential-poll-shows not going anywhere. “I don’t know how that works, but people Three-quarters of Australians back “We’re here to take everything our ances wantstore toit,” talk he said. to us about importing CO2 into target of net zero by 2030, Guardian tors were denied. We’re Gomeroi next the Cooper Basin if we can permanently Essential poll shows generation, and we’re going to be here until the second-largest CCS project globally Katharine Murphy, Guardian, 01/12/2020 that’sthe end ours: of time. Gomeroi.” Gallagher said the initial project would be “There’s one land and there’s one law, and after Gorgon in Western Australia, with Public support for action on climate change- the world’s lowest costs, at less than $30 a - ising higher to the now latest than Guardian it was atEssential the peak poll, of the https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/australia-s-gas-html tonne over the life cycle. fired-recovery-plans-ignite-industry-fear-20201203-p56k7v. catastrophic bushfires last summer, accord Australia’s ‘gas-fired’ recovery plans While the project is ready for a final invest ignite industry fear mentdeclares decision, it is eligible Santos to will generate not give Australian the which shows a strong majority supporting green light until the federal government a net zero target by 2050. Nick Toscano, SMH, 04/12/2020 Theadopting latest a survey net zero of emissions1,034 voters target has by81% Carbon Credit Units, a decision hoped for Australia’s oil and gas companies are CCS remains a hugely controversial tech- support for the Morrison government appealing to the Morrison government nologytowards amid mid-2021. concerns among environmen- 2050 – which is a 10 point increase in - the level of voter support for the policy to take a cautious approach as it begins talmean groups the process that it will has be also used been as uncoman excuse- recorded back in January. assessingsuggesting plans such forinterventions a domestic discouragegas-reser to prolong the life of fossil fuels. High costs The survey suggests a majority of voters vation scheme, pointing to new research would favour stronger climate action prices. mercial,over long-term while uncertainty liabilities. reigns over the earlier, with 75% of the sample supportive investment and don’t guarantee lower potential for long-term carbon leakage and - ofincrease setting since a net January. zero target by 2030 rather - Publicthan mid-century, support is also which there is an to 11ban point political Astions gas in producers Prime Minister grow increasinglyScott Morrison’s wor ried about the knock-on effects of interven - donations from fossil fuel companies “gas-fired” COVID-19 economic recovery (72% support, up from 62% in January), plan, the nation’s peak oil and gas associa and 87% of the sample say they would tion will launch a report on Friday warning Page 10 • Fossil Fool Bulletin 4.02 • 8 December 2020

support accelerating the development of new industries and jobs that are powered by renewable energy (up from 81% during the fires). - The survey also indicates a majority would support a policy of requiring mining com panies to fund bushfire hazard reduction While(80% supportthe survey compared suggests with climate 68% action support in January). majority support, some issues remain incontroversial. Australia is nowAustralians a cause remain with strong divided about whether we should be opening new coalmines (49% support new mines and 51% oppose them) and whether the fossil fuel industry should get taxpayer subsidies (42% support and 58% oppose this). https://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/ un-report-rightfully-shames-australia-over-fossil-fuel-plans- UN20201202-p56jxw.html report rightfully shames Australia David Gillespie, Matt Canavan and Barnaby Joyce underground at Centennial Coal’s over fossil fuel plans Mandalong mine on November 26. Photo: William Rollo Fergus Green, Richard Denniss & Richie Merzian, SMH, 03/12/2020 The most obvious place to start is to abol- - - mining-tour-concludes/https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/7030335/nation als-push-for-new-hunter-coal-fired-power-station-as-two-day- Barnaby Joyce, Matt Canavan and Australia is the world’s third largest ishmore subsidies than enough. for new fossil fuel explora exporterNations Environment of fossil fuels. Program According and to leading a tion, given that the world has already found- David Gillespie take the National Party newinternational report released research today organisations, by the United Aus - message to Mandalong underground - Fortunately,industries, redirecting because of the the same highly investment capi and Vales Point power station tal-intensiveinto almost any nature other of industry the coal, createsoil and agas lot Ian Kirkwood, Newcastle Herald, 27/11/2020 tralia’s contribution to the world’s produc Australiantion of coal, government’s oil and gas is plansonly growing. to increase subsidies and handouts. With public surveys repeatedly reporting The UN analysis – which highlights the more jobs than are created via fossil fuel - able energy, National Party MPs Barnaby overwhelming public support for renew fossil fuel production, mostly for export – The greatest impact Australia can make on Queensland Senator Matt Canavan, are makes for sober reading. the climate front is to put a moratorium on Joyce and David Gillespie, along with The global warming carbon budget sets new coal mines and gas fields. a limit on the amount of fossil fuels the FOSSIL POLITICS often portrayed as energy troglodytes. world can produce if we are to keep global- warming below 1.5 degrees. But by 2030, But as far as Senator Canavan is concerned, https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/anthony-albanese-html the trio are putting “practicality ahead of- ifmore Australia than double and other that major amount. fossil fuel pro backs-in-behind-mark-butler-climate-action-20201125-p56hxe. ducers realise their plans, we will produce backs in behind Mark ablewishful energy thinking” – especially in calling in overcoming out what they itssay intermittency are major shortcomings – and have withdubbed renew their Butler, climate action Among the big fossil fuel producers, the Rob Harris, SMH, 25/11/2020 common sense”. group of wealthy countries with diversified two-day tour of the Hunter “the caravan of economies, like Australia, are much better placed to transition away from fossil fuels. Mandalong underground mine and Delta Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese’s As well as visiting Centennial Coal’s - After all, coal mining employs less than- half a per cent of Australian workers. closest allies say he is “not for blinking” on Labor’s climate change policies and will Electricity’s Vales Point power station yes Australia’s“tend to be fossilhighly fuel politically production organised, is pri not be shifting the energy portfolio away terday, they launched what they said was a vatelyinvesting owned considerable and these resources private companies into new website – huntercoal.com.au – which from long-time frontbencher Mark Butler - - in an upcoming reshuffle. contains an online petition calling for a new ‘high efficiency low emission” (HELE) Butler, a South Australian left-faction pow lobbying, campaign finance, public rela coal-fired power station under the banner erbroker,remained said“passionate” on Wednesday about hisstrong future action in tions, and think tank sponsorship, and of “Nationals for Coal”. exertingIt seems influencethe “Canberra through bubble” a ‘revolving is a great theon climate job was change. a decision for Albanese and he door’ between business and government.” https://reneweconomy.com.au/canavan-leads-caravan-for-coal- Canavanurging-nationals-to-bury-future-in-fossil-fuels-22525/ leads “caravan” for coal, urging employer of coal and gas workers who The federal Labor caucus has been plagued Nationals to bury future in fossil fuels don’t work on site. with division over the issue since last Giles Parkinson, Renew Economy, 27/11/2020 These powerful fossil fuel stakeholders are year’sJoel Fitzgibbon election defeat, earlier whichthis month. culminated in frustratingthese challenges, efforts the to transitionreport continues, to cleaner the resignation of shadow cabinet member energy and cleaner exports. Overcoming “Nationals for coal”. It has a certain ring to “will require weakening these incumbent it, don’t you think. And it leaves no doubt interestssupport transitions, in general, engagingand strengthening with industry where the party now owes its allegiances, actors that are making serious efforts to not so much with farmers and the regional communities they feign to support, but co-operation with other firms and unions.” with Big Fossil. Page 11 • Fossil Fool Bulletin 4.02 • 8 December 2020 most. resources minister and Nationals MP Keith Perhaps it’s all about who donates the dirty work of the fossil fuel lobby. Current Joyce always maintained that he did not know of the exploration licence when The former and still aspiring federal leader Pitt put in his two cents worth on Sky he purchased two blocks for a combined of the National Party, Barnaby Joyce, and News, describing the NSW plan – which is $572,000 in 2006 and 2007. He said there his former chief of staff, former Nationals whole-heartedly supported, incidentally, by wasthe time, no prospect denied categoricallyof gas being extracted he had any leader in the Senate and former resources the NSW Nationals, – as a “fantasy”. from the land and according to reports at ministerslamming Matt the NSWCanavan Coalition have been government’s on a two Pitt, who reminded viewers that he is an day tour of coal mines in the Hunter Valley, electrical engineer, then went on to talk knowledge of anything that could drive up about “carbon capture and storage”, which the value of the land at the time he bought it. Accordingrenewable totransition the Newcastle plan and Herald calling for a he said was already commercial, which will- Joyce did say, however, that he would sell new coal fired power station in the area. bement news handouts. to the carbon capture and storage the land, if he could get the right price, , which industry which is seeking massive govern toNationals avoid “any party, viewed and the conflict highly of polarising interest” sentanother a photographer Nationals MP down David a Gillespie,mine shaft the promising. “Technology has to be the between his role in government and the toNationals take a picture trio are of calling Joyce, themselvesCanavan and the Pitt then went on to say CCS was merely Joyce’s land has not been sold in the seven technologies that these Nationals are yearsissue ofsince, coal despite seam gas. his attempts to sell it. It alternatives spring to mind. solution,” he said. It will be, but not the “caravan of common sense”. Numerous Centennial Coal’s Mandalong underground talking about. is not currently on the market, Joyce said. has campaigned against coal seam gas On Thursday, we are told, they visited https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/nov/28/ Simon Pockley, a landholder in the nearby mining-giants-make-fresh-bid-to-explore-for-gas-with-licence- Warrumbungle mountain range who mine, and the Vales Point power station Miningthat-covers-land-owned-by-barnaby-joyce giants make fresh bid to explore - that is half owned by prominent LNP donor for gas with licence that covers land extraction,holding. said he believed there was a Trevor St Baker, where they launched a owned by Barnaby Joyce “clear conflict of interest” in Joyce’s land new website – huntercoal.com.au – which stands to gain,” he said. Christopher Knaus, Guardian, 28/11/2020 calls for a new coal-fired power station “Of course there is, for a public figure who under the banner of “Nationals for Coal”. Canavana government wondered plan. why,Almost if renewables in the same were so cheap, they needed support or Oil giants Santos and Comet Ridge are https://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/coal- baron-rules-out-suing-over-nsw-energy-plan-as-opposition- again pushing to explore for gas under a Coalwanes-20201128-p56irg.html baron rules out suing over NSW breath, he fretted about the fate of his licence that covers land owned by Barnaby federal government’s grant to St Baker’s Joyce, which he said he would sell almost energy plan as opposition wanes coal generator, the one St Baker bought off seven years ago, acknowledging it could be Peter Hannam, SMH, 29/11/2020 the NSW government for just $1 million perceived as a conflict of interest. - and which has delivered him hundreds of In 2013, Joyce was revealed to own land millions of dollars in profits. missed media reports he plans to sue the incentral Gwabegar, to the near state’s the coal Pilliga seam state gas forest devel - Energy magnate Trevor St Baker has dis Gillespie urged Australia “to follow inopment north-west plans. New South Wales, a region America’s lead” and cut power prices by Joyce’s land, described as “mongrel land” NSWrejig theirgovernment investments. over its new energy plan buildingthat the USmore coal coal industry fired power is moribund stations. and as some of biggest companies prepare to Someone must have forgotten to tell him a petroleum exploration licence held as a with little agricultural use, was covered by St Baker, whose company Sunset Power mostly bankrupt, and US coal production Ridge, raising the possibility that he could has fallen to its lowest level in more than boughtto sue” andthe Valeshad communicated Point power station that to for the $1 joint venture between Santos and Comet million in 2017, said he had “no intention 50 years. on his property. And don’t think this is just a bunch of financially benefit from any future drilling Berejiklian government. government back-benchers doing the entrepreneur, sometimes dubbed a “coal News Corp papers on Tuesday reported the Matt] Kean over the ambitious energy baron”,plan that had aims “vowed to lure to privatesue [Energy investment Minister

to build 12 gigawatts of new capacity, or about nine Vales Point plants, by 2030. “It was a total misquote,” St Baker said, adding that while “we think there are flaws in the plan ... we’re pleased that there’s an open door [to Minister Kean]”. The landmark energy plan passed into- law on Friday after the government overcame a marathon effort over 30 hours in virtu ally one sitting by One Nation MP Mark Lathamcriticisms. to shackle the bill with almost 250 amendments, and also reference St Baker’s

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Barnaby Joyce, David Gillespie, and Matt Canavan at Vales Point Power Station on BULLETIN November 26. Photo: William Rollo https://knitting-nannas.org/bulletins.php Page 12 • Fossil Fool Bulletin 4.02 • 8 December 2020

- A coalition responding to the TERC’s plan https://www.armidaleexpress.com.au/story/7035035/contrari a seat retained by the Liberal National – including the Environment Centre NT, Barnabyan-view-joyce-to-lobby-on-behalf-of-anti-wind-groups/ Joyce to lobby on behalf of theParty, weekend and has federal sought by-election to resume negotiain Groom,- emerging opposition to New England the NT Council of Social Service and the renewable energy zone toldtions a with Queensland the State Resources Government. Council lunch EnvironmentAustralian Manufacturing Centre NT co-director Workers’ UnionKirsty Andrew Messenger, Armidale Express, On Friday, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk- NT – likened the report to Jekyll and Hyde. 30/11/2020 dinary pressure due to trade tensions - that the coal sector was under extraor Howeypromoting said gas the and TERC’s petrochemical report appeared indus- to have been written by two different people, Barnaby Joyce will lobby the Common betweensector. Australia and China. She said her targets. wealth against a state renewable energy government would continue to fight for the try growth alongside renewable energy plan which he said will turn his electorate into a “sea of wind farms”. New Hope was the first company signed “There are concerns around the world that The former Deputy Prime Minister and up by former Labor official, MP and this boom in the production of plastics member for New England said he will Palaszczuk staffer turned lobbyist Evan - by petrochemical plants could in fact lock work, as a local member, on behalf of a Moorhead. During the election, New Hope in emissions for many years to come and numberdevelopments. of community groups that have paid for digital media services to be deliv prolong our dependence on fossil fuels,” sprung up in opposition to wind farm ered by another lobbying firm, Govstrat, Howey said. which has stronger links with the LNP. Howeypetrochemical also said plants. there was a growing body “If anyone says they are going to cover New An analysis by the ABC last week revealed of research about health risks related to- England with wind towers, they’re in for Moorhead’sthan any other Anacta lobbyist. Strategies had met with one heck of a battle,” he said on Facebook staff working in the Premier’s office more Shesuspected used the cancer example clusters of an related area in to Lou the on the weekend. Labor Party. isianapollution dubbed created “cancer by the alley” plants. because of The New England region was last week AnactaThe firm Strategies has also beenheld sixpaid meetings to work in for a the designated as a Renewable Energy Zone. be extremely toxic, they produce large State government plans accommodate for- “Petrochemical plants are known to much as 8,000 megawatts of wind, solar single month last year with the Premier’s and battery power in the region, develop chief of staff and the chief of staff of then- amounts of waste,” Howey said. - ment worth as much as $12.7 billion. state development minister, Cameron Dick. - https://www.afr.com/companies/energy/australian-in Joyce said the “legislation that would close The main opponent to the New Acland dustry-group-backs-domestic-gas-reservation-poli down four coal fire power stations will mine expansion, the Oakey Coal Action cy-20201204-p56kmiAustralian Industry Group backs result in 600,000 hectares of new wind Alliance, complained of only securing six domestic gas reservation policy meetings in more than three years with afarms.” novelty to a threat,” he said. frontbenchers or their staff. Angela Macdonald-Smith & Elouise Fowler, “That starts to scare people. That goes from - AFR, 06/12/2020 https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-12-03/territory-econom ic-reconstruction-commission-middle-arm-plans/12943406 Arguments that a domestic gas reserva- Given“I don’t the want bipartisan hundreds near-consensus of thousands ofon Darwin Harbour to face more further hectares of new wind farms.” industrialisation under Territory Economic Reconstruction tionare “absurd”, system on according the east coastto the would Australian lead toIndustry the collapse Group. of oil and gas investment reform, Joyce said it was his responsibility- Commission plan to “vent the contrarian view”. - Felicity James, ABC, 03/12/2020 It said a gas reservation system could be Instead of vast new renewables develop ment, Government should look to upgrad long-term security to domestic gas users, ing the coal-fired Liddell power station to combined with other options to provide meet future power needs, Joyce said. ProposalsNT Government’s to further latest industrialise plan, released the on and imposing a national interest assess- harbourTuesday, areto help a prominent it recover feature economically of the including extending control of LNG exports over the next decade. https://inqld.com.au/news/2020/11/30/mining-company- “Western Australia’s reservation policy Miningwith-lobbyists-on-the-books-spent-660000-on-election/ company with lobbyists spent ment test on new gas export developments. $660,000 on election - immense investment by the oil and gas Sean Parnell, In Queensland, 30/11/2020 The new economic recovery strategy was hassector clearly over notthe beenyears,” incompatible Ai Group said with in its draftedthe NT Government by the Territory and Economicco-chaired Recon by submission to the Morrison government’s - struction Commission (TERC), set up by - tion scheme. The New Hope Group has been shed Andrew Liveris, former chief executive of review on a proposed national gas reserva dingmine. staff amid ongoing delays with the “The idea that an eastern or national res- Thethe Dow commission’s Chemical planCompany, includes one a of proposed the proposed expansion of its New Acland coal - For months, the company has been calling petrochemicalworld’s largest precinctchemical at manufacturers. Middle Arm, ervation would necessarily lead to the col Basin. lapse of oil and gas investment is absurd.” on the Palaszczuk Labor Government Petrochemicalsupported by development plants convert of naturalthe Beetaloo gas to finalise approvals for the stage three The proposed expansion has been contro- - https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7042602/ expansion of the mine, near Toowoomba. matt-kean-is-right-coal-is-no-help-in-the-fight-against- versial, pitting environmentalists against Mattheatwaves/ Kean is right: Coal is no help in the NTinto Government a range of end tender products, documents such as reveal plas fight against heatwaves tics, paint, detergents and fertilisers. local advocates, and sparked legal action. Matt Edwards, Canberra Times, 07/12/20 - Corporate disclosures reveal New Hope furthertion, a possible details about urea plant, potential a methanol interest in spent $658,528.31 campaigning in the - theplant, Middle mercury Arm processing, site for ammonia hydrogen produc lead-up to the October 31 state election. It TheNSW fossil Energy fuel Minister interests Matt were Kean’s out in promo force - lobbied both sides of politics, and adver ore, titanium and vanadium. last week in the usual places, following tised the merits of its proposal, before production and a minerals refinery for iron Parliament late last month. Labor was re-elected for a third term. tion of his new energy policy, which passed The company also campaigned ahead of Page 13 • Fossil Fool Bulletin 4.02 • 8 December 2020 STOP WATER MINING THE NEXT RESOURCES BATTLE

Independent news and insight into energy, industry and climate in Western Australia from Peter Milne

NSW Energy Minister Matt Kean has copped criticism from the Murdoch media for his promotion of renewable energy. Photo: Contributed https://www.boilingcold.com.au/

- - His crime? To dare to suggest on Twitter of an industry responsible for the prema that environmental benefits and cost sav tureresearchers. deaths of nearly 800 people a year ings to the community outweigh the profits nationwide, according to Australian health of polluting vested interests and a select few “coal barons”. That’sgenerations, to say allnothing too concerning of the immeasurable to scientists CLEARING THE PR POLLUTION THAT Seems pretty innocuous, you would think, threat posed by fossil fuels to our future CLOUDS CLIMATE SCIENCE andeconomy a reason and to our celebrate local environment. the dawn of a - https://www.desmogblog.com/ more positive future for our industry, our - styleslike myself. - this is about a responsible transi- This is not about an attack on jobs or life Not for some. Labor backbencher Joel Fitz gibbon,minister increasingly as “an idealist at oddsrather with than senior a real - tionmost at existing a time whenones are new scheduled coal-fired to power close membersist, gloating of abouthis own a premature party, portrayed victory the over plants no longer stack up economically, and- security and energy reliability”. by 2035, wiping nine gigawatts of genera those who are arguing for no more than job tion capacity from the market. Renew Economy provides clean energy At Coalition for Conservation, we applaud news and analysis in a daily And former Labor leader Mark Latham, conservative leaders who are serious about newsletter available at now working for Pauline Hanson, conservation. We want nothing more than attempted vexatiously to block the passage for our children and grandchildren to - of Mr Kean’s energy package through the inherit a better world. The over-reliance- on https://reneweconomy.com.au/ NSWappalling upper that house, he’s Energyattacking Minister!” it with almost coalment to and provide the economy. baseload power in heat 250 amendments and telling 2GB radio “it’s waves is dangerous, both to the environ

The Herald Sun’s recountedThe Murdoch that press coal werehad saved incensed. NSW during Heatwaves are not a reason to support James O’Doherty furiously coal. They are an eye-opener to realise we mustjust that. transition to renewables and storage. the heatwave, helping residents stay cool. The• Dr Mattminister’s Edwards policy is vice-chairman is a good way of to do CoalWire is a weekly bulletin of One might as well thank cigarettes for Coalition for Conversation, a solar research coal-related news published by Global reducing the stress of a blocked aorta. scientist at the University of NSW, and the Energy Monitor: in royalties to the government this year,” founder BlueVolt, a startup bringing solar “Coal is also forecast to deliver $1.4 billion power to cities. globalenergymonitor.org the staggering cost to the health system F O’Doherty pointed out, failing to mention

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