PERTH – 3 JUNE 2026
Alcoa’s Environmental Protection (Darling Range Bauxite Mining Proposals) Exemption Order 2023 will be revoked by the WA Government and replaced by an updated order. The End Forest Mining campaign is calling on Environment Minister Matthew Swinbourn to use this as an opportunity to protect the jarrah forests and drinking water threatened by Alcoa’s mining.
The WA Government handed the Exemption Order to Alcoa at the end of 2023 after the WA Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) announced it would assess the impact of the US bauxite miners’ current operations for the first time since 1963, in addition to proposed expansions.
This should have halted any of Alcoa’s operations under assessment, but the Exemption Order gave Alcoa permission to continue mining, including within drinking water Reservoir Protection Zones, with minimal constraints.
Several suspected breaches of the exemption order have been reported in recent months, where Alcoa has mined close to significant trees that could provide critical habitat for threatened black cockatoos. Buffers required under the current exemption are well under what is advised by scientists and government departments.
The public has 14 days from Wednesday 3 June 2026 to provide comments to the Environment Minister on the exemption being revoked.
The End Forest Mining campaign is encouraging members of the public to voice their opinions about the decision, reflecting on the flaws of Alcoa’s current exemption and calling for it not to be reinstated.
Alcoa’s current mining and proposed expansions are also under assessment by the Federal Government, after it was recently revealed that the company had mined for over 15 years without Federal approval. The Federal Government has also provided Alcoa with an exemption to keep mining despite this breach.
Quotes attributable to Jess Boyce, Director, WA Forest Alliance
“The conditions of the current exemption are woefully inadequate and do not protect the Northern Jarrah Forests or Perth’s drinking water supply.
“It is irresponsible that the Government has so quickly guaranteed Alcoa a new exemption, whilst Alcoa’s inability to follow the rules is demonstrated again and again.
“The proof will be in what the Minister does next, and we hope that he makes the right decision and stops Alcoa in its tracks by not granting a new exemption.
“There should be no circumstance in which Alcoa is allowed to continue clearing forests whilst under assessment, especially within the reservoir protection zones that protect Perth’s drinking water.
“Hundreds of hectares of precious forests are being cleared every year whilst Alcoa is granted exemption after exemption and allowed to run reckless on the Darling Scarp. Alcoa must be made to wait whilst the EPA progresses its assessment.
“There must be no new exemption order granted as a replacement for the current exemption.”
Quotes attributable to Matt Roberts, Executive Director, Conservation Council of WA
“The exemption order for Alcoa has failed to adequately protect critical habitat trees for endangered black cockatoos and has enabled the ongoing clearing of the world’s only jarrah forest in Perth’s drinking water catchment.
“It is stark that we are in a position of having to fight for the survival of every single black cockatoo habitat tree. But if we have any hope of pulling this species back from the brink of extinction, we simply have to stop clearing their habitat.
“Too often we see instances of isolated trees being retained, while surrounding ecosystems are stripped away and left completely barren. The government has an opportunity here to do the right thing for threatened species and our precious forests by holding Alcoa to account in meeting environmental standards that West Australians deserve and expect.
“Enough is enough, there should be no new exemption order granted, or at the very least, much stronger outcomes-based conditions to protect habitat trees and exclude clearing within the Reservoir Protection Zones.”
Quotes attributable to Alyx Douglas, WA Campaigns Manager, The Wilderness Society
“When the 2023 Exemption Order was issued, the Cook Labor Government was clear: any breach of conditions by Alcoa would see the exemption immediately cancelled. Yet, despite multiple reported breaches this year alone, the government is really considering granting Alcoa another exemption.
“We reject claims that this environmental damage is justified by any perceived economic benefit. What price are Western Australians being asked to pay for impacts to Perth’s drinking water, biodiversity loss, and escalating climate impacts in the Northern Jarrah Forest? This isn’t economic management; it’s environmental vandalism.
“If this new exemption is granted, it confirms the state government is committed to protecting the pockets of big industry. While our Northern Jarrah Forest faces irreversible damage, the government is once again burying its head in the sand and using its own regulatory loopholes to let Alcoa off the hook.”
About End Forest Mining
End Forest Mining is an alliance of groups, all working together for a shared purpose: to end bauxite mining in WA’s Northern Jarrah Forest. Our vision is for the state’s magnificent remaining jarrah forests to be safe from mining, and protected forever. For more information see endforestmining.org.au.
For media enquiries please contact: John Cooke, Media Advisor at Conservation Council of WA
0433 679 780/John.cooke@ccwa.org.au