NSW tables bill to guarantee Mount Pleasant mine jobs until 2032
Labor introduces emergency legislation to protect Mount Pleasant coal mine jobs pending a fresh court approval process.
A High Court ruling in October said planners must weigh a coal mine's climate impact before approval. The ruling cancelled the Independent Planning Commission's earlier approval of Mount Pleasant's extension to 2048.
The NSW government says this left workers in legal and financial limbo. A new bill was tabled in Parliament on Tuesday.
It would let the mine extract 16.5 million tonnes of coal a year until 2032 or a fresh approval comes through. In exchange, Mach Energy must guarantee all existing permanent jobs and file quarterly workforce reports.
The government faces opposition outside Parliament from climate groups.
- November 10, 2026
- Bill tabled date
- Mach Energy
- Mine operator
Why it mattersMount Pleasant workers face uncertainty over Christmas without legal clarity on their roles. The bill offers short-term job security while courts resolve the case.
AustraliaNSW coal mining jobs that supply local power and export revenue are now protected in law, though only until 2032, buying time for final approval resolution.
