The environment minister, Tanya Plibersek, approved three coalmine expansions on Tuesday.
The Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) said the three projects, all in New South Wales, would generate more than 1.3bn tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions in their lifetime.
Plibersek approved Whitehaven Coal’s plan to extend underground mining for 13 more years until 2044 at its Narrabri mine; Mach Energy’s mine at Mount Pleasant was extended until 2048; and Yancoal’s Ravensworth mine was extended to 2032.
Defending the approvals, Plibersek said the government had to make decisions “in accordance with the facts and the national environment law”.
“That’s what happens on every project, and that’s what’s happened here.”