“Over a long period of time I think we’ve been disappointed with the performance of Alcoa when it comes to protecting the environment and rehabilitating the environment.”

That’s what Roger Cook told ABC Radio when asked about the $55 million fine Alcoa has received as a consequence of illegal forest clearing dating back to 2011*.

Alcoa has been operating under a WA Government exemption since the end of 2023, whilst the WA Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) assesses its current mining. It is outrageous that, after 15 years of skirting federal regulations, the US company is just handed another exemption. When will enough be enough? In the last 6 months alone, Alcoa has been under investigation for three separate breaches to its State exemption order, lied to shareholders about approvals, drilled too close to cockatoo nesting trees, and lied about rehabilitation in advertising. 

Why is Alcoa allowed to continue, unabated, with its forest destruction, whilst Western Australians wait for the WA EPA and Federal Government to assess the potential toll of Alcoa’s operations?

The National Interest Exemption Alcoa has been granted by Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt for Alcoa’s part in a proposed Gallium refinery, subject to a deal with the Australian, US and Japanese governments. This power has never been used for commercial reasons before, and it shouldn’t be used now. 

It is not in the national interest to clear precious, unique forests in the face of a biodiversity and climate crisis. These forests cannot be rehabilitated, and once they’re gone, they’re gone forever.

The State and Federal governments need to have some guts, and stop issuing Alcoa a get out of jail free card every time it breaks the law.

Alcoa’s social license and standing with state and federal governments is crumbling. Help us break it all the way down by ensuring decision makers know that you want an end to forest mining using our email template..