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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has taken a swipe at Leonardo DiCaprio after the Hollywood star blasted the Australian government for approving a mine expansion that environmental activists claim would put endangered species at risk.
West Australian mining company South32 was last month granted approval by Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek to clear almost 4000 hectares of native vegetation at the Northern Jarrah Forests in the state's south-west as part of a mine enlargement.
Environmental groups were outraged by the decision, claiming habitats for endangered animals, such as black cockatoo nesting sites, would be put at risk.
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DiCaprio last night supported the activists, writing on Instagram: "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)."
"The mining company @south_32 is set to clear 9600 acres of this old growth forest, which is home to threatened species like the Critically Endangered Woylie," the actor wrote.
"This operation will destroy critical habitat for over 8000 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 prioritise mining development over environmental protection."
DiCaprio, the Oscar-winning star of Titanic, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, The Revenant and The Departed, is a longstanding supporter of environmental protection.
In 2019, he created the organisation Earth Alliance to advocate for measures to combat climate change.
Albanese was asked about DiCaprio's remarks at a press conference in Perth this afternoon, where he said he would be surprised if he even knew where the mine is.
"Are you a fan of Leonardo DiCaprio?" a journalist asked.
"Depends on the movie mate," Albanese said.
"He's used his profile to complain about your government approving a bauxite mine in Western Australia," the journalist said.
"If Leonardo DiCaprio knows where a bauxite mine is in Western Australia, I'd be very surprised," Albanese replied.
When asked whether the actor had a point, Albanese said: "I don't know, I haven't seen. I don't follow Leonardo DiCaprio."
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A spokesperson for South32 said the post contained "factual errors", and the company has significantly reduced the amount of native vegetation that would be cleared as part of the project.
"For example, our proposal does not include clearing of old growth forest, and the WA environment minister's ministerial statement explicitly states that old growth forest is not to be disturbed by our proposal," the spokesperson said.
"The Worsley mine development project will be undertaken in accordance with strict approval conditions that seek to avoid or minimise impacts to habitats of species, including the black cockatoo, to support their ongoing viability.
"Since our original proposal, we have significantly reduced the amount of native vegetation that will be cleared as part of the project, to further avoid and minimise impacts to the environment.
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"Within the areas that we have received approval to mine, protected areas and buffer zones will be implemented around known habitats of certain protected species and we will undertake (or have already undertaken) targeted flora and fauna surveys and monitoring as required by our approvals."
The spokesperson said South 32, in accordance with approval conditions, would rehabilitate land its clears through its operations, helping to re-establish flora and fauna habitat.
Nearly 8000 hectares of land will also be set aside and restored to create additional habitat for species, including the Black Cockatoo, as part of a total 12,300 hectare offsets package, they said.
A spokesperson for the the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment said the approval was made with strict conditions. These conditions include requiring South 32 to:
- progressively rehabilitate mined areas, protect active black cockatoo nest hollows and ensure the viability of the Woylie and Numbat populations in and around the mine site
- successfully establish artificial nest hollows for three threatened species of black cockatoos
- implement a water management plan to minimise the risk of adverse impacts on protected matters, specifically the Quindanning spider orchid and Carter's freshwater mussel
- protect and enhance 12,345 hectares to compensate for the loss of 3855 hectares of native vegetation that provides habitat for threatened species (Jarrah-Marri (Corymbia calophylla) Forest and woodlands of Wandoo (Eucalyptus wandoo)-Marri)
- contribute to a research program aimed at improving the management and protection of impacted species of national significance and enhancing habitat values to ultimately assist with maintenance of the ongoing ecological integrity of the Northern Jarrah Fores
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