Leonardo DiCaprio has hit out at the Albanese government for giving the green light to a mine expansion that will clear a swathe of forest in Western Australia.
Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek last month approved South32 to expand its Worsley Alumina bauxite mine near Boddington, 120km south-east of Perth.
Almost 4,000 hectares of native bush in the Northern Jarrah Forests will be cut down in the development.
The Oscar-winning actor and environmentalist took to Instagram on Wednesday night to condemn the move in a post to his 80million followers.
‘The Australian government has approved deforestation within the Jarrah Forest of Western Australia, clearing the way for the mining of bauxite, the main ingredient in aluminum [sic],’ he said.
‘The mining company @south_32 is set to clear 9,600 acres of this old growth forest, which is home to threatened species like the Critically Endangered Woylie.
‘This operation will destroy critical habitat for over 8,000 species, 80 per cent of which are found nowhere else on Earth.
‘While native forest logging was banned in Western Australia in 2024, clearance of native forests for mining is still allowed due to separate government policies that prioritize mining development over environmental protection.’
The Oscar-winning actor took to Instagram on Wednesday night to condemn the move
He added: ‘This new approval is in addition to South32’s previous deforestation, bringing the total area of Jarrah Forests cleared to over 38,000 acres.
‘@rewild and @wild.ark stand to protect these towering ecosystems that are already at risk of climate change.’
South32 has previously said the expansion would create an additional 200 jobs in the region and help sustain WA’s aluminium supply.
A spokesperson told the ABC that although 3,855 hectares of forest would be felled, it would also set aside almost 8,000 hectares of land and restore it to create fresh habitat for native species.
‘The approved project will enable access to bauxite to sustain production at Worsley Alumina, allowing our significant contribution to the South West and Peel regions to continue,’ the spokesperson said.
They added that aluminium was ‘critical for the global energy transition’.
South32 had already cleared almost 9,000 hectares of the North Jarrah Forests in 2023, sparking concern from wildlife activists and the United Nations.
Black cockatoos, woylies and numbats are all species impacted by the deforestation.
Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek last month approved South32 to expand its Worsley Alumina bauxite mine near Boddington
The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water said South32 would need to comply with strict conditions, including progressively rehabilitating mined areas and protecting black cockatoo nests.
The decision was slammed last month by activists.
Mereana Lewis, of Locals for Environmental Action and Protection, said she felt betrayed by the federal government’s decision.
‘We are devastated, absolutely devastated,’ she told the ABC.
‘We did put our trust in Minister Plibersek. We had so much information which we gave to the ministry, and we feel that no-one has taken any notice of our concern.’
A spokesman for Ms Plibersek’s Department of Environment and Water said South32 faced strict conditions at the site.
The company must progressively rehabilitate the mined areas, protect the black cockatoo nests and provide 12,345ha of land to compensate for the approved land clearance, while also ensuring the viability of local woylie and numbat populations.
