Electoral Office Of Environment MP Tanya Plibersek Vandalised

Environment MP Tanya Plibersek has had her electoral office in Redfern vandalised this morning.

Zach Schofield, a member of environmental action group Rising Tide, spray painted the word “LIAR” across the office windows in response to Plibersek’s approval of a “greenfield” coal mine in Queensland, as well as extensions to three others.

Only moments after approving the mines, she took to social media, where she claimed Labor had approved zero new coal mines in 2024.

A spokesperson for Plibersek said the mine isn’t categorised as “new” because “the independent scientific experts and the minister’s department classify the project as an expansion.”

Commenters weren’t fooled, with dozens leaving messages of disappointment and anger across Plibersek’s most recent posts, including environmental education and advocacy group Earthly Education, and Youth 4 Climate Justice.

“On the same day as she is approving four new coal projects, the Environment Minister is on social media gaslighting the public about not approving new coal mines,” said Schofield in a statement posted to Instagram. “There is zero difference to the climate between a new coal project at an existing mine, or a new mine. Whether from a new mine or an expansion, new coal is a death sentence for our most vulnerable citizens and Pacific neighbours.

“The Albanese government was elected on a climate mandate, promising to take real action against the greatest injustice of our time. They lied. Instead, Environment Minister Plibersek has approved 32 new coal and gas projects, each one dooming my generation to a dangerous future.”

Schofield ended the post by saying that he planned to hand himself into Redfern police station to “take responsibility for his actions in a way that our government never will”.

Approvals played down, but will have huge emissions

Plibersek said that the projects were “all extensions of existing operations” and were producing coal for making steel that was essential for “homes, bridges, trains, wind farms, and solar panels”.

“There are currently no feasible renewable alternatives for making steel,” she said.

She said the projects would support up to 3,000 jobs and had to comply with Australia’s commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2050.

The government has also reportedly issued “240 strict conditions across the projects to ensure the environment is protected”.

Climate campaigners estimate the approved mines will release more than 850 million tonnes of CO2 over their lifetime, equivalent to almost double Australia’s annual emissions.