August 15, 2005

The denial was made in a submission by Senator Campbell to a Federal Court challenge by a Queensland environmental group.

Wildlife Whitsunday went to court seeking environmental impact assessments on two coalmines, saying burning coal produces gas emissions that contribute to climate change and thereby threaten assets such as the Great Barrier Reef.

The Government approved the Isaac Plains and Sonoma Coal projects in May, saying neither needed assessment under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.

Senator Campbell, through a Government solicitor, rejected the group's claim that "the burning of coal to generate electricity generally results in the emission of greenhouse gases contributing to global warming".

He made the statement on August 5, just days after warning Australians about the inevitability of global warming.

Greenpeace activists yesterday took over a coal dredge at the Hazelwood power plant in the Latrobe Valley, labelling it the developed world's dirtiest energy plant.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Greenpeace march on mine
By RENEE KUROWSKI
Monday, 15 August 2005

ARMED with big banners and beanies protecting their heads from the icy Valley weather Greenpeace protesters approached enemy lines Thursday morning infiltrating the border, entering the big bunker and chaining themselves to a dredger to display their `coal fuels climate change' signs.

Police were called to International Power Hazelwood (IPRH) when 15 Greenpeace protesters broke into Hazelwood power station and dropped a huge `first prize' ribbon from one of the dredgers declaring `first prize biggest polluter'.

According to Greenpeace energy campaigner Mark Wakeham 60 protesters travelled to the power station and then a team of 15 went into the open cut and unrolled a massive banner along the bed of the bunker. Four protesters then climbed the dredger to hang another banner.

"We're highlighting that we think Premier (Steve) Bracks needs to retire Hazelwood, quit coal and help us tackle climate change and extreme weather events by making the shift to clean energy," Mr Wakeham said.

He said the Valley's recent freak snowfalls were an example of the extreme conditions that could occur as a result of climate change.

"Scientists are telling us that with climate change we will have more extreme weather events and we're certainly seeing an extreme weather event today (Thursday) with snow on beaches in Victoria."

Police Search and Rescue was called in from Melbourne to remove the protesters chained to the dredger's bucket wheel.

Police Acting Inspector for the Latrobe Region Dave Watson said no charges had been laid as yet and the matters would proceed by summons.

He said the protest in the mine had tied up police resources.

The dredger the protesters chained themselves to was off on maintenance.

"This has not caused any operational problems for us," IPRH public affairs manager Neil Lawson said.

Meanwhile Mr Wakeham said Greenpeace used a number of ways to get its message across.

"In this case it seems as though Premier Bracks is about to make a decision to extend the life of Hazelwood, we think that's a serious issue so we take serious actions like this one.

"We hope that Premier Bracks will be forced to reconsider extending the life of Hazelwood."

Mr Wakeham said renewable energy would provide jobs for the community that would be lost if Hazelwood was to close.

"We know that there's many jobs in clean energy. For the same unit of power you create four to six times as many jobs with wind and solar power than you do with coal-fired power.

"Just last week in Portland in western Victoria a new wind turbine manufacturing plant opened which is employing 60 people. There's no reason we couldn't have that sort of development here in the Latrobe Valley."