The Big Lie: Calls for transition plan away from coal following T4 cancellation

MEDIA RELEASE: 31 May 2018

The Greens have welcomed the news that the proposal for a fourth coal loader at Newcastle Port has been cancelled and called on the government to use this as a catalyst to develop a serious plan for a just transition away from the coal industry.

Greens Resources and Energy spokesperson Jeremy Buckingham said:

“This is wonderful news. Reality is catching up with the great lie that we can continue to export coal in an age of climate change.

“The possibility that we might have yet another coal loader at the world’s largest coal port made a mockery of Australia’s commitments to action on climate change.

“The Greens call on the government to develop a transition strategy away from coal and will be making this a key election issue,” Mr Buckingham said.

Greens Newcastle City Councillor John Mackenzie said:

“This is fantastic news for our city.  T4 was part of the old Newcastle and the air pollution and heavy industry that it represents has no place in the modern emerging global city that Newcastle is becoming.

“From the outset the economics was against this, the science was against this and the community was against it but because of our broken planning system it was approved anyway.

“Cancellation of T4 means that we can now open up Newcastle’s port capability to more diversity rather than having it quarantined for a coal industry that is on its last legs.

“Communities are sick of being placed in limbo by a planning system which has no red lights and a Government who won’t show leadership by refusing new fossil fuel projects at the outset,” Councillor Mackenzie said.

Contact:  Max Phillips - 9230 2202 or 0419 444 916

John Mackenzie – 0408 533 010

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