Minns accused of bypassing high court ruling with laws to allow NSW mine to increase coal production by 32%
Summary
The New South Wales Minns government plans to introduce a special law to let MACH Energy increase coal production at its Mount Pleasant mine by 32%, despite a recent high court ruling that stopped an expansion approval. The government says the law is needed to protect 400 jobs at the mine until 2032.Key Facts
- The bill would allow MACH Energy to raise coal output from 12.5 million tonnes to 16.5 million tonnes per year.
- The high court ruled in October 2026 that the previous expansion approval was invalid.
- The mine’s operating life was extended to 2032 under an earlier modification.
- The government says passing the bill will save 400 jobs before Christmas.
- MACH Energy has agreed to keep its current permanent workforce until 2032 if the bill passes.
- Critics say the government is ignoring legal processes and increasing pollution by helping the coal company.
- The high court ruled that the planning process should have considered emissions from burning the exported coal (scope 3 emissions).
- The bill will include some restrictions on emissions similar to those for another large coal project in the Hunter Valley.
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