The Australian federal and state governments have approved a wave of fossil fuel projects over the past six weeks, prompting accusations that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and other leaders are 'gaslighting' the public by claiming to take climate change seriously while expanding emissions.
Peter Dunn, a former emergency services commissioner for the Australian Capital Territory and member of Emergency Leaders for Climate Action, expressed fury over the approval of Woodside's North West Shelf gas plant extension. 'I'm bloody angry, bitterly disappointed,' he said, adding that the government has 'lost its licence to lead' by 'trashing its integrity' on climate policy.
Approvals since April include Santos' Barossa offshore gas project, two coalmine extensions in New South Wales, Viva Energy's floating gas terminal in Geelong, and nine new gas exploration areas in Queensland. On 22 May, Albanese and NSW Premier Chris Minns visited flood-affected communities, with the PM acknowledging 'more extreme weather events' due to climate change. Six days later, Environment Minister Murray Watt provisionally approved the Woodside extension to 2070.
Serena Joyner, chief executive of Bushfire Survivors for Climate Action, criticised Albanese's remark that 'it is net zero, not zero', calling it 'gaslighting'. She said her organisation, which has spent years sharing trauma stories with MPs, is reassessing its approach: 'Being cooperative and playing nice with Labor isn't getting us anywhere.'
BSCA member Angela Frimberger questioned whether the government cares about climate-affected people, saying, 'You just want to sit across a table from them and say, 'What do you think is going to happen?''
