Leonardo DiCaprio slams the Albanese government in fiery mining spray: 'Destroying critical habitat'

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Leonardo DiCaprio has hit out at the Albanese government for giving the green light to a mine expansion that will clear a swathe of forest in Western Australia.  

Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek last month approved South32 to expand its Worsley Alumina bauxite mine near Boddington, 120km south-east of Perth.

Almost 4,000 hectares of native bush in the Northern Jarrah Forests will be cut down in the development.

The Oscar-winning actor and environmentalist took to Instagram on Wednesday night to condemn the move in a post to his 80million followers.  

'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],' he said. 

'The mining company @south_32 is set to clear 9,600 acres of this old growth forest, which is home to threatened species like the Critically Endangered Woylie.

'This operation will destroy critical habitat for over 8,000 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 prioritize mining development over environmental protection.'

He added: 'This new approval is in addition to South32’s previous deforestation, bringing the total area of Jarrah Forests cleared to over 38,000 acres.

'@rewild and @wild.ark stand to protect these towering ecosystems that are already at risk of climate change.'

But South32 has hit back at DiCaprio's post, telling Daily Mail Australia it contains 'factual errors'. 

'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,' a 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 its original proposal the company had significantly reduced the amount of native vegetation that would be cleared as part of the project.

'Protected areas' and 'buffer zones' would be implemented around known habitats of protected species, and the company was required to undertake flora and fauna surveys as part of the approval. 

'In accordance with our approval conditions, we will progressively rehabilitate land we clear through our operations, helping to re-establish flora and fauna habitat. In addition, nearly 8,000 hectares of land will be set aside and restored to create additional habitat for species including the Black Cockatoo, as part of our total 12,300 hectare offsets package.'

The supply of alumina from Worsley Alumina was a 'vital component in the production of aluminium, a metal critical for the global energy transition,' the spokesperson added.

South32 had already cleared almost 9,000 hectares of the North Jarrah Forests in 2023, sparking concern from wildlife activists and the United Nations. 

Black cockatoos, woylies and numbats are all species impacted by the deforestation, according to the environmental activists

The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water said South32 would need to comply with strict conditions, including progressively rehabilitating mined areas and protecting black cockatoo nests.

The decision was slammed last month by activists.

Mereana Lewis, of Locals for Environmental Action and Protection, said she felt betrayed by the federal government's decision.

'We are devastated, absolutely devastated,' she told the ABC. 

'We did put our trust in Minister Plibersek. We had so much information which we gave to the ministry, and we feel that no-one has taken any notice of our concern.' 

A spokesman for Ms Plibersek's Department of Environment and Water said South32 faced strict conditions at the site.

The company must progressively rehabilitate the mined areas, protect the black cockatoo nests and provide 12,345ha of land to compensate for the approved land clearance, while also ensuring the viability of local woylie and numbat populations.