NSW government legislates to save 400 coal mine jobs after court invalidates
NSW is rushing emergency legislation to protect 400 jobs at Mount Pleasant coal mine. A court struck down the mine's approval.
The NSW government will introduce emergency legislation within a fortnight. This will allow MACH Energy to keep coal production at Mount Pleasant.
The mine is near Muswellbrook and can continue until 2032. The move follows a High Court ruling on October 7.
The court found that planning authorities must consider local climate impacts. The High Court decision invalidated the mine's previous expansion approval.
Premier Chris Minns said the legislation would address the legal uncertainty created by the judgment. He said the state remains committed to tackling climate change.
The company has warned that without intervention it would need to cut back production. This threatens jobs in the Hunter region just before Christmas.
The bill will require MACH Energy to sign a Jobs Guarantee. The company must commit to current staffing levels.
This must happen before the new production rights take effect.
- 400
- Jobs protected
- 16.5 million tonnes
- Annual coal output
- October 7
- Court ruling date
- Near Muswellbrook
- Mine location
Why it mattersIt balances job protection with environmental law. This creates new legal ground for a government caught between worker security and climate obligations.
AustraliaThe Hunter Valley economy depends on Mount Pleasant's 826 workers and hundreds of local supplier jobs; the legislation determines whether those jobs survive the court challenge.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 2 h ago
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