The giant ‘swiftie’ demands an end to coal

A giant swift parrot was displayed outside NSW parliament as part of the campaign to save the colourful and speedy bird’s habitat from Whitehaven Coal’s Maules Creek Coal Mine expansion in northern NSW.

More than 50 people joined the protest, which was organised by Lock the Gate Alliance (LGA).

The swift parrot, which won the Bird of the Year prize in 2023, has been described as the world’s fastest parrot.

Nick Clyde from LGA told the rally that the swift parrot was being endangered by NSW Labor's approvals of new coal and gas projects. “There are currently 17 coal mine expansion projects in the pipeline in NSW.”

Raymond “Bubbly” Weatherall, a Gomeroi man, said: “State and federal governments have approved every coal and gas project that they can. Enough is enough! The end game is to get coal and gas out of our country.”

Doro Babeck, NSW campaigner for the Bob Brown Foundation, said the campaign to save the swift parrot and other species focused on protecting the native forests in Tasmania and elsewhere. “The swift parrot flies from Tasmania across Bass Strait to the mainland in three hours. That trip takes up to 12 hours by boat.”

Sally Hunter, an anti-coal mine campaigner and a Maules Creek farmer, asked people to send a message to the government to let the Maules Creek mine lease lapse.

“We need a plan for the transition of mining jobs out of coal and gas and into renewable industries. The Maules Creek mine has already bought out around 80 farms in the area, and this has to stop.”

The model swift parrot, which was constructed in Muloobinba/Newcastle, will now be transported to Maules Creek for a gathering with the local community.

[For more information on the Swift Parrot campaign visit Lock the Gate Alliance.]