Conservation groups have slammed a federal government decision to allow US giant Alcoa to continue its West Australian bauxite mining operations after being hit with a record fine for illegal clearing.
Alcoa was handed a $55 million penalty on Wednesday for illegal clearing of WA's jarrah forests, south of Perth, between 2019 and 2025.
At the same time, federal Environment Minister Murray Watt revealed Alcoa had been granted an 18-month national interest exemption, allowing for "limited land clearing to continue".