Iemma rides roughshod to fast-track massive coal loader approval, Greens to move censure motion

"Premier Morris Iemma's credibility on climate change is in tatters wih this announcement to approve a massive third coal loader in Newcastle Harbour", said Ms Rhiannon.

"If the NSW government won't stand up to the coal industry there will be increases rather than reductions in NSW's greenhouse gas emissions.

"Greens MPs will move a censure motion against the government on the first sitting day of Parliament.

"The Iemma government has fast-tracked approval of the third coal loader and ridden roughshod over the process that his own government established.

"Over 800 people made submissions to an Independent Panel established by this government urging against the new coal loader. The project has now been approved before the panel has had a chance to deliver the report.

"Fast-tracking the approval of the coal loader makes a farce out of this government's community consultation and environmental assessment process.

"Newcastle is already the world's largest coal port, shipping out about 80 million tonnes per year. A new coal loader would mean an extra 66 million tonnes every year are mined and shipped out of Newcastle.

"Approving this coal loader will drive the expansion of the coal industry in the Hunter and up into the Gunnedah Basin. There are at least 9 proposals for expansion of existing mines on the table and 13 proposals for new mines on the table.

"Today's decision shows that the Iemma government remains beholden to the coal industry and it is back to business as usual despite the Premier's pretty words on climate change during the election.

"The coal industry has run a campaign to create a bottleneck of coal ships in Newcastle Harbour to force the approval. Premier Iemma has rolled over to this ugly piece of industrial blackmail.

"The queues of ships are growing because coal companies are overbooking ships, not because port infrastructure is lacking.

"The government hid their cards before the election on whether the coal loader would be approved and the public now know why.

"It is disgusting that on the same day that Premier Iemma and other state Premiers meet with Prime Minister John Howard to discuss climate change, Premier Iemma gives the go ahead to a massive expansion of the coal industry in NSW.

"The Greens will continue to work for a phase-out of coal and will step up our campaign with communities fighting coal expansion in the Hunter and Gunnedah basin", said Ms Rhiannon.

Contact:  Greens MP Lee Rhiannon 9230 3551