The NSW government is drafting legislation to allow MACH Energy’s Mount Pleasant coal mine in the Hunter Valley to increase its output. Premier Chris Minns says the bill would permit production to rise by about 32% to 16.5 million tonnes per year, with the authorisation running until 2032. He says the measure is needed to protect about 400 jobs at the site.
Multiple outlets report the legislation is tied to a recent High Court decision involving the mine, with the government seeking to move forward despite the court’s findings. The Guardian reports critics characterise the approach as an attempt to bypass or override the High Court ruling, calling it “legislative overreach.” In contrast, Minns frames the intervention as an urgent, targeted step to secure employment outcomes before Christmas.
