The New South Wales government drafted legislation to extend the Mount Pleasant coal mine's operations until 2032, overriding a recent High Court ruling that blocked the expansion.

What it means

The New South Wales government is drafting legislation to allow the Mount Pleasant coal mine, operated by MACH Energy in the Hunter Valley, to expand production and remain open until 2032. This legislative move overrides a recent High Court ruling that had blocked the expansion, and the government cites the protection of around 400 jobs as the reason. The bill would effectively raise the mine's annual output limit, reversing the court's decision.

Accuracy & sourcesGrounded

The claim is solid: it is based on the NSW government's official announcement and draft legislation, reported by multiple reputable news outlets including ABC News and The Guardian. The reporting closely follows the government's statement and the context of the High Court ruling, making the information reliable.

How new

Genuinely new: the story was published on 19 October 2026, the same day the government announced the draft legislation.

Go deeper