Luke is joined by Nick Cater, Senior fellow at the Menzies Research Centre / Columnist with the Australian & Author of ‘The Lucky Culture’, who highlighted a notable observation in The Australian newspaper about Tanya Plibersek, the federal environment minister. 

Ms Plibersek’s rejection of Clive Palmer’s Central Queensland coal mine application was seen as a political win, given her inner-city seat’s Green-leaning constituents.  She criticised the Coalition’s approach to development, emphasising her concern for the environment. 

However, Mr Cater questions her sincerity when she applies different standards to the renewable energy sector, which also impacts koala habitat.  In February, a review found the Federal Energy Minister’s department had 140 koala-killing projects under consideration, 29 of them for wind, solar or hydro generation. 

Since the koala is an endangered species in NSW and Queensland, Plibersek would be on firm ground should she choose to give the developers the same treatment she meted out to Palmer.  Yet the signs are not promising.

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