**Coal Mine Approvals:** The Coalition government, specifically Environment Minister Greg Hunt, did approve multiple coal mining projects in the Galilee Basin.
The Alpha Coal Project was approved by federal Environment Minister Tony Burke in August 2012 (under Labor), with conditions [3].
**Endangered Species:** The southern black-throated finch is listed as an endangered species, and the Adani Carmichael mine would consume one of its key remaining habitats.
According to the Queensland Department of Environment and Science, the finch's range has "contracted by approximately 80 per cent of its former extent over the last 20 years" [4].
Birdlife Australia states there are fewer than 1,000 black-throated finches alive, with the main population on the Adani mine lease in the Galilee Basin [4].
**Emissions Calculations:** The Climate Council's 2015 report "Galilee Basin - Unburnable Coal" estimated that "if all of the Galilee Basin coal was burned, it is estimated that 705 million tonnes of carbon dioxide would be released each year – more than 1.3 times Australia's current annual emissions" [5].
Australia's emissions in 2014-15 were 549.3 million tonnes of CO2 [6], which would make the Galilee emissions approximately 128% of Australia's annual emissions—consistent with the "130%" figure cited in the claim.
While the Coalition (federal) provided environmental approvals, Queensland's state government (Labor since 2015) also played a role in approving mining leases and environmental management plans [2].
**Conditional Approvals:** The approvals were granted with environmental conditions attached, not as unconditional approvals.
The Carmichael project was "approved subject to conditions" [2], including requirements for management plans for protected species.
**Precedent Approvals:** The Alpha Coal Project received its initial federal approval from Environment Minister Tony Burke in August 2012 under the Labor government [3], demonstrating that Galilee Basin development had bipartisan support at different times.
**Economic Context:** The claim doesn't acknowledge that these approvals occurred during a period when Australia was a major coal exporter, and coal mining was a significant contributor to the national economy and regional employment in Queensland.
**Did Labor do something similar?**
Search conducted: "Labor government coal mine approvals Queensland Galilee Basin history"
**Finding:** The Labor government (under Environment Minister Tony Burke) approved the Alpha Coal Project in August 2012, making it "the forerunner of all the proposed projects" in the Galilee Basin [3].
* * * *
This approval predated the Coalition government's approvals.
**Additional context:** Coal mining has been supported by both major Australian political parties historically, reflecting Australia's position as one of the world's largest coal exporters.
The key difference is that the majority of Galilee Basin projects received their federal approvals during the Coalition government (2013-2022), though the development timeline began under Labor.
The approvals were consistent with long-standing bipartisan support for the mining industry.
**Environmental Trade-offs:** While the claim correctly identifies environmental concerns—particularly regarding the black-throated finch and climate impacts—the approvals reflected competing priorities: economic development, energy exports, and employment versus environmental protection and climate change mitigation.
These are legitimate policy trade-offs that governments must navigate.
**International Context:** The coal from these projects was intended for export to markets like India, where it would displace lower-quality domestic coal and potentially reduce local pollution, though this does not address the global emissions impact [5].
**Financial Viability Concerns:** Despite receiving environmental approvals, most Galilee Basin projects have not proceeded due to lack of financing and declining coal demand.
By 2015, 11 international banks had announced they would not fund Galilee Basin projects, and analysts noted the projects were at risk of becoming "stranded assets" [5].
**Key comparison:** This is not unique to the Coalition—Labor also approved coal mine expansions and operations during their terms.
The core factual claims are accurate: (1) The Coalition government did approve coal mines in the Galilee Basin, including the Carmichael mine which affects black-throated finch habitat; (2) The endangered species claim is correct—the southern black-throated finch's habitat would be impacted, and the species has lost 80% of its range; (3) The emissions calculation of ~130% of Australia's annual emissions is supported by Climate Council research citing 705 million tonnes of CO2 from burning all Galilee Basin coal, compared to Australia's ~549 million tonnes annual emissions.
The core factual claims are accurate: (1) The Coalition government did approve coal mines in the Galilee Basin, including the Carmichael mine which affects black-throated finch habitat; (2) The endangered species claim is correct—the southern black-throated finch's habitat would be impacted, and the species has lost 80% of its range; (3) The emissions calculation of ~130% of Australia's annual emissions is supported by Climate Council research citing 705 million tonnes of CO2 from burning all Galilee Basin coal, compared to Australia's ~549 million tonnes annual emissions.