Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Elaine Johnson @elainejohnson.bsky.social · 1d

Right now, we’re seeing a return to the bad old days of unconstrained Ministerial powers over individual developments being proposed in NSW Parliament.

The Govt should release ICACs advice on the laws before this gets rushed through Parliament next week.

michaelwest.com.au/nsw-fast-tra...

Back to Obeid? Fast-track housing laws a stalking house for fast-track mines - Michael West

NSW could return to the Obeid days with new fast-track planning laws for “housing” handing the minister unprecedented power for mines

michaelwest.com.au

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Reposted by Elaine Johnson

Rum Court Rules @courtrum.bsky.social · 1d

" NSW’s fast-track planning laws could allow mines to be approved without environmental assessment "

Elaine Johnson @elainejohnson.bsky.social · 6d

There’s some pretty alarming stuff happening in NSW right now with big changes to the planning laws being rushed through Parliament.

The proposed amendments create major corruption risks and should be closely reviewed by ICAC.

www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

NSW’s fast-track planning laws could allow mines to be approved without environmental assessment

Environmental assessments could go out the window for mining projects, windfarms and other developments, green groups say

www.theguardian.com

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Elaine Johnson @elainejohnson.bsky.social · 1d

“Australia is facing a steeper-than-anticipated 25% slump in LNG export earnings by next financial year, dragged down by a slide in crude oil prices and oversupply that is starting to hit global gas markets, according to the federal government’s commodities forecaster.”

www.afr.com/companies/en...

Australia faces 25pc slump in LNG export earnings

New data reveals an $11 billion drop in expected LNG revenue, with gold set to overtake gas as our second most valuable export.

www.afr.com

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Reposted by Elaine Johnson

Dave Peterson (He/Him) Ⓥ 🇨🇦 @fedupwithbadair.bsky.social · 3d

Those mines need to be sued and criminally prosecuted. There is NOTHING that justifies blocking such warnings.

Elaine Johnson @elainejohnson.bsky.social · 3d

A novice mining company, Bowdens, wants to build an open cut greenfield lead mine in the beautiful Mudgee region. There are major health risks to communities as well as workers, yet the Govt is still saying “trust us.”

#BowdensLeadMine #LeadMining

www.smh.com.au/national/nsw...

Mines blocked health warnings to workers with toxic blood lead levels

Documents reveal thousands of NSW residents have been exposed to potential lead harm, including mine workers with up to 16 times the threshold to notify authorities.

www.smh.com.au

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Elaine Johnson @elainejohnson.bsky.social · 3d

“The cost of the development itself ... leave us with a questionable set of economics for the project.”

- Head of energy research at MST Financial, Saul Kavonic

www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10...

Financial analysts cast doubt on mega Woodside gas project

The Browse gas project is staring down the full weight of Australia's climate movement. Analysts say that is the least of its worries.

www.abc.net.au

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Elaine Johnson @elainejohnson.bsky.social · 3d

A novice mining company, Bowdens, wants to build an open cut greenfield lead mine in the beautiful Mudgee region. There are major health risks to communities as well as workers, yet the Govt is still saying “trust us.”

#BowdensLeadMine #LeadMining

www.smh.com.au/national/nsw...

Mines blocked health warnings to workers with toxic blood lead levels

Documents reveal thousands of NSW residents have been exposed to potential lead harm, including mine workers with up to 16 times the threshold to notify authorities.

www.smh.com.au

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Reposted by Elaine Johnson

Birdie Carrington @bcarrington.bsky.social · 4d

‘Changes to the act would remove references to “protecting the environment” and “promoting the social and economic welfare of the community and a better environment”, replacing them with phrases such as “promote productivity through the development and management of the state and its resources”

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Reposted by Elaine Johnson

philipredwards.bsky.social @philipredwards.bsky.social · 4d

“Fast tracking” anything is a recipe for disaster. It means regulations and limitations that were put in place to keep us safe are likely to be glossed over. Then, 20 years later, someone else has to fix it.

Elaine Johnson @elainejohnson.bsky.social · 6d

There’s some pretty alarming stuff happening in NSW right now with big changes to the planning laws being rushed through Parliament.

The proposed amendments create major corruption risks and should be closely reviewed by ICAC.

www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

NSW’s fast-track planning laws could allow mines to be approved without environmental assessment

Environmental assessments could go out the window for mining projects, windfarms and other developments, green groups say

www.theguardian.com

1 4

Reposted by Elaine Johnson

Bridie Mac @bridiemac.bsky.social · 5d

Thanks for posting Elaine. Might've missed it otherwise.

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Elaine Johnson @elainejohnson.bsky.social · 6d

There’s some pretty alarming stuff happening in NSW right now with big changes to the planning laws being rushed through Parliament.

The proposed amendments create major corruption risks and should be closely reviewed by ICAC.

www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

NSW’s fast-track planning laws could allow mines to be approved without environmental assessment

Environmental assessments could go out the window for mining projects, windfarms and other developments, green groups say

www.theguardian.com

7 41 59

Elaine Johnson @elainejohnson.bsky.social · 13d

‘North West Shelf rules may kill Browse gas plan’ www.theaustralian.com.au/business/min...

www.theaustralian.com.au

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Reposted by Elaine Johnson

Paul M @quolltracks.bsky.social · 17d

I wonder how they calculate the offset for this?

Elaine Johnson @elainejohnson.bsky.social · 17d

A mining company with no prior experience, Bowdens, wants to build an open cut lead mine in the famous Mudgee region, 2km from a primary school.

The community is rightfully concerned.

The Government says ‘trust us.’

www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

Lisa wants to raise her children on the family farm - but a lead mine next door threatens her dream

Following revelations the environment watchdog buried a report on lead mining, parents wonder if they can ‘trust that our children’s safety is coming first’ over mining interests

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Elaine Johnson

Sam @meanderingwitch.bsky.social · 17d

#nswpol

Elaine Johnson @elainejohnson.bsky.social · 18d

After burying a critical health report in lead mines and children’s blood lead levels for 4 years, the EPA wants the Mudgee community to trust it to protect kids from the Bowdens lead mine proposal.

#RegulatoryCapture
#LeadFreeMudgee

www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09...

Australian children 'living in poison' with lead in bloodstream at high levels

A state government body sat on a report into lead dust that was "poisoning" children for nearly four years and tried to keep its release quiet.

www.abc.net.au

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Elaine Johnson @elainejohnson.bsky.social · 17d

Prevention is always better than the cure.

If you are looking at how to support the community to protect the beautiful Mudgee region and our kids from an open cut lead mine, here’s how: chuffed.org/project/1482...

Protect Mudgee Region from Lead Mining and Lead Exploration

chuffed.org

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Elaine Johnson @elainejohnson.bsky.social · 17d

A mining company with no prior experience, Bowdens, wants to build an open cut lead mine in the famous Mudgee region, 2km from a primary school.

The community is rightfully concerned.

The Government says ‘trust us.’

www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

Lisa wants to raise her children on the family farm - but a lead mine next door threatens her dream

Following revelations the environment watchdog buried a report on lead mining, parents wonder if they can ‘trust that our children’s safety is coming first’ over mining interests

www.theguardian.com

3 15 33

Elaine Johnson @elainejohnson.bsky.social · 17d

If you are looking at how to support the community to protect the beautiful Mudgee region and our kids from an open cut lead mine, here’s how: chuffed.org/project/1482...

Prevention is always better than the cure.

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Elaine Johnson @elainejohnson.bsky.social · 17d

For those looking at how to support the community to protect the beautiful Mudgee region from an open cut lead mine, here’s how: chuffed.org/project/1482...

Protect Mudgee Region from Lead Mining and Lead Exploration

chuffed.org

Reposted by Elaine Johnson

Jane Doe, Pretty Hate Machine @noticingclimate.bsky.social · Aug 17

Last thing we need is more lead poisoning:

Royce Kurmelovs @roycerk2.bsky.social · Mar 13

Late last year I began looking into some issues concerning lead in Port Pirie when I broke a story about how testing confirmed a spate of dead birds and bats found across the South Australian town had been killed by acute lead poisoning.

Since then, I've been continuing to dig through FOI.

/1

Royce Kurmelovs @roycerk2.bsky.social · Mar 13

Documents obtained under FOI show dead and dying birds and bats found across Port Pirie in South Australia last year were exposed to lead at 3,000 times acceptable levels.

Take a moment to read this follow up investigation and report on the story I broke in December:

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Elaine Johnson @elainejohnson.bsky.social · 17d

For those looking to know how to support the community protect the beautiful Mudgee region from this open cut lead mine, here’s how: chuffed.org/project/1482...

Protect Mudgee Region from Lead Mining and Lead Exploration

chuffed.org

Elaine Johnson @elainejohnson.bsky.social · 17d

If you want to know how to support the community protect the beautiful Mudgee region from an open cut lead mine, here’s how:

chuffed.org/project/1482...

1 2

Elaine Johnson @elainejohnson.bsky.social · 18d

After burying a critical health report in lead mines and children’s blood lead levels for 4 years, the EPA wants the Mudgee community to trust it to protect kids from the Bowdens lead mine proposal.

#RegulatoryCapture
#LeadFreeMudgee

www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09...

Australian children 'living in poison' with lead in bloodstream at high levels

A state government body sat on a report into lead dust that was "poisoning" children for nearly four years and tried to keep its release quiet.

www.abc.net.au

5 34 47

Reposted by Elaine Johnson

luekoalas.bsky.social @luekoalas.bsky.social · 23d

#nswpol #auspol #environment #mining

Elaine Johnson @elainejohnson.bsky.social · Sep 7

A critical report on the impacts of lead mining on children’s blood lead levels was hidden from the public for four years.

In that time, a Parliamentary Inquiry hearing on lead mining was held in the Mudgee region, and the Bowdens lead mine in Mudgee was approved.

www.smh.com.au/national/nsw...

‘Getting ridiculous’: Bureaucrats sat on critical pollution study for four years

Internal documents reveal the level of concern inside the NSW environment watchdog about releasing a report that mining companies did not want published.

www.smh.com.au

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Reposted by Elaine Johnson

Steve Moskal @samoskal.bsky.social · 25d

#ffagenda Australia - #climatecrimes

Elaine Johnson @elainejohnson.bsky.social · 26d

"This decision is a slap in the face. It allows Woodside to continue operations and pollution to 2070. It is a crime against Murujuga and a crime against humanity”

- Mardathoonera Traditional Custodian Raelene Cooper

www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09...

Australia's largest gas project given final approval to operate until 2070

Australia's biggest gas project, Woodside's North West Shelf, has received final approval to extend operations through until 2070.

www.abc.net.au

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Elaine Johnson @elainejohnson.bsky.social · 26d

"This decision is a slap in the face. It allows Woodside to continue operations and pollution to 2070. It is a crime against Murujuga and a crime against humanity”

- Mardathoonera Traditional Custodian Raelene Cooper

www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09...

Australia's largest gas project given final approval to operate until 2070

Australia's biggest gas project, Woodside's North West Shelf, has received final approval to extend operations through until 2070.

www.abc.net.au

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Reposted by Elaine Johnson

Michael Mazengarb @michaelmazengarb.bsky.social · 26d

Murray Watt announcing that he has approved the extension and expansion of the North West Shelf gas project.

This will allow Woodside to continue producing and exporting fossil gas until 2070.

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