Australian biodiversity and imperial obsequiousness

In a nutshell:
#biodiversity #mining #JarrahForest #LandClearing #UnlawfulClearing #EPBCAct #EPBCActExemptions #cockatoos #EndangeredSpecies
#Australia #CriticalMinerals #ImperialObsequiousness #SubimperialEnforcer #ExemptionPower #NationalInterest #extractivism #zeitgeist

"The Australian government’s decision to allow the US mining giant Alcoa to continue clearing swathes of Western Australian jarrah forest despite past illegal clearing practices was made in part due to a critical minerals deal reached between Australia and the Trump administration last year, a new document shows."

"...The government has prioritised corporate interests and foreign defence interests above the jarrah forests, the endangered species that rely on the forests and Perth’s drinking water – showing just how wrong their priorities are.”

“In the twisted logic of Australia in the Trump age, the national interest lies not in honouring and protecting the beauty and richness of our natural heritage, but in sacrificing it to foreign mining companies.”
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https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/feb/21/australia-us-minerals-underpinned-decision-to-allow-alcoa-to-keep-clearing-wa-forest-document-reveals

Australia-US minerals deal underpinned decision to allow Alcoa to keep clearing WA forest, document reveals

Document also shows US miner had been unlawfully clearing land for 15 years despite warnings from department

The Guardian