Hollywood heavyweight Leonardo DiCaprio has slammed the Australian government for its approval of a proposed mine expansion in the Northern Jarrah Forest in Western Australia.
In a post to his 60 million followers, DiCaprio offered his support to activists who have opposed the South32 mining project, which is set to clear up to 3,855 hectares of native vegetation.
“This operation will destroy critical habitat for over 8,000 species, 80% of which are found nowhere else on Earth,” DiCaprio wrote on Instagram.
“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.”
In February, Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek gave South 32 the green light for its Worsley Alumina bauxite mine near Boddington.
Asked about DiCaprio’s criticism of the government, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to dismissed the concerns.
“Are you a fan of Leonardo DiCaprio?” a journalist asked him at a press conference.
“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 about the mining approval, Albanese said: “I don’t know, I haven’t seen. I don’t follow Leonardo DiCaprio.”
South32 has told the media that its mining project near Boddington is one of the largest employers in the region and will operate under strict environmental conditions.
When the mine expansion was approved in February, Senior Campaigner for the Wilderness Society, Jenita Enevoldsen, said the government was failing to do its job to protect nature.
“The Minister has not listened to the community over corporations. She has not applied the Global Biodiversity Framework or Glasgow Leaders Declaration to halt and reverse deforestation by 2030 and end extinctions when assessing this project. The approval of this project threatens the Northern Jarrah Forests and its biodiversity, climate, culture, water and future generations,” Enevoldsen said.
“The Minister has shown that nature is not a priority to this government, and they’re failing to do their job and protect nature.”