Friends of the Earth (FoE) Melbourne  is a non-for profit organisation working for a socially equitable and environmentally sustainable future. The international Friends of the Earth network is  active in 77 countries with over 2 million members. Read more.

In a secretive and highly political move the Morrison Government approved the controversial Yeelirrie uranium project in WA’s Mid West despite an ongoing legal challenge by senior Tjiwarl Traditional Owners and conservationists. The approval was made despite the Federal Environment Minister last year committing to wait for the outcome of the legal proceedings in the Supreme Court, which are still ongoing. 

Friends of the Earth's Victorian Budget Response

MEDIA RELEASE: 27 May 2019

Andrews govt budget delivers for solar homes, now to deliver for climate action across the economy

Environment group Friends of the Earth welcomes the Andrews government’s funding for the $1.3 billion Solar Homes program and says the $545 million down payment creates a platform for a heavy lift on climate action.

“The Andrews government’s 2019/20 budget delivers for solar and creates a platform upon which it can deliver ambitious action on climate,” said Leigh Ewbank, Friends of the Earth spokesperson.

“With the re-election of the Federal Coalition government, now more than ever Victoria must show leadership on climate change and a just transition.”

The Andrews Labor government must set interim Emissions Reduction Targets by 31 March 2020, release a Climate Strategy the same year, and roll out adaptation plans from 2021.

“A big funding boost is needed to ensure Victoria's efforts to tackle the climate crisis get traction,” said Leigh Ewbank.

“When it comes to tackling climate change, the rubber hits the road at the state level.”

“The community is looking to the Labor government to have vision when it comes to reining in emissions and protecting communities from climate impacts.”

While the government’s investment in solar is a positive outcome for climate action, a shift is still needed in transport.

Budget 2019/20 includes new investment in public transport and active transport, however it is dwarfed by investment in he controversial North East Link toll road.

“New investment in public transport and active transport is welcome, yet it is dwarfed by $15.8 billion for the controversial North East Link toll road,” said Rachel Lynskey, FoE Sustainable Cities spokesperson.

“Roads will receive twice as much funding as public transport. A budget with a strong focus on climate action would correct this imbalance as quickly as possible.”

Friends of the Earth says investing in the construction of Melbourne Metro 2 is the best option for the Labor government to deliver a secure pipeline of jobs and improve public transport in the medium term. The group says it is the logical next step once Melbourne Metro 1 is completed.

Friends of the Earth will launch a campaign for the Andrews government to deliver Victoria’s first Climate Budget later in 2019.

The Darling River is in crisis after years of mismanagement.

With the election announced for May 18th, now is the time to let Scott Morrison and the Coalition government know that you'll be voting for the River.

Send him a dead fish NOW

Friends of the Earth Australia's response to the 2019 federal election result

Like many of us, you were probably saddened by the outcome of the federal election on Saturday.

While it really was the #ClimateElection, with community concern about climate and energy policy being greatest since the federal election of 2007, Saturday has delivered a re-elected Coalition, which is run by climate deniers and blockers.

While these results may pose a huge setback for meaningful action on climate change and environmental protection, we have been inspired by all those who made climate action a major issue at the ballot box this election.

People across the continent rallied alongside school strikers and their clear demands for action and their calls to stop the Adani coal mine, for no new coal, oil and gas projects, and for 100% renewable energy by 2030.

We know this is what is needed. However, the Morrison Government has no meaningful policy on climate change. The blockers in Government and their allies in the Murdoch press feel emboldened (already QLD MP Matt Canavan is calling for the Adani mine to be built). The Coalition owes Clive Palmer big time. And he wants a big new coal mine in Queensland.

The next three years will be tough. There is the chance the Coalition will restart its campaign against green groups who have charity status, like Friends of the Earth, in an attempt to break our power. But we will not be broken.

Instead, across the Friends of the Earth network, we will continue to work with frontline communities impacted by climate change, ‘connecting the dots’ on climate science and speaking up for climate justice.

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We need your help to build a massive submissions drive to push back on the controversial North East Link toll road!

MAKE A SUBMISSION TODAY USING OUR SUBMISSION TEMPLATE AND TIPS, then head online to submit.

This is our moment to have our say on concerns with the mega toll road. North East Link risks the future of Melbourne. We need to be Rethink the project before it is too late.

Last year the Andrews Government released five new oil and gas exploration blocks in the offshore Otway Basin in state waters, from Port Campbell to the South Australian border. They are part of the national 2018 Petroleum Exploration Acreage Release. The tender process for companies to apply closed on February 15, 2019. The department has said they had ‘good’ interest in the blocks, and will make a decision on successful bidders later in the year.

The companies who win the tender will then start to investigate what gas is there, partly using data from the Victorian government’s Gas Program. They will also look into how any gas might be extracted (one option is to drill gas wells onshore and then drill horizontally into offshore fields). Both desktop and field exploration would be undertaken (probably including seismic testing).

Kalbar Resources, a company that has no mining experience, has proposed a mineral sands and rare earths mine at Glenaladale, near Bairnsdale in East Gippsland.

The Fingerboards mine has not yet been approved by the Victorian Government, but after several years of investigation, Kalbar believes the site is suitable for an open cut mine to extract minerals including zircon, rutile and ilmenite — a titanium mineral, and rare earths.

Kalbar plans to extract about 200 million tonnes of ore from the site over 20 years.

Residents in Far-Western NSW have left out to dry this election cycle as the leader of the country remained absent during one of the worst disasters in the history of Australia’s inland rivers.

If, like him, you've missed it, since December millions of fish washed up on the lower Darling near the township of Menindee in far west NSW. In three mass fish kill events the iconic Murray Cod,  endangered silver perch and the Barkandji totem the bony bream have died in extraordinary numbers.