The Wire

In New South Wales, the Carr government’s dual commitments to expanding the coal industry, and to environmental protection, are not proving happy bedfellows. Under Premier Carr, nine new coal mines have been approved, or are set to be approved, while eight expansions of existing coal mines are currently underway. At the same time, the State government has reduced funding to the environment budget, limiting the ability of the Department of Environment and Conservation to police the coal industry. Yet Carr has built an image of himself as being an environmental crusader, especially regarding greenhouse emissions. Today in Sydney, regional environmental groups are rallying to highlight this contradiction outside Government House, where Carr is chairing a two-day meeting of the International Task Force in Climate Change. Bill Birtles spoke to Bev Smiles, of the Mudgee District Environmental Group, and Stewart Little, Senior Industrial Officer of the Public Services Association of New South Wales.