The High Court on Wednesday ruled planning authorities in New South Wales needed to consider overseas emissions when approving a mine expansion.
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authorities → rule → expansion
It's sparked concerns from the mining sector in Queensland – the country's largest coal-producing state.
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It → spark → Queensland
The industry says it's working through how the decision will impact the state, while the government says the laws are already strong and will strengthen them if needed.
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laws → say → them
A High Court ruling that planning authorities needed to take overseas emissions into account when approving projects could spook investors, the industry fears.
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industry → need → investors
Yesterday, the High Court ruled in favour of a New South Wales community group which had been fighting the expansion of a coal mine in the Hunter Valley region.
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which → rule → region
The court ruled the state's planning body had failed to consider the emissions of coal burnt overseas when approving the project.
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body → rule → project
Speaking to the ABC, federal industry minister Tim Ayres was quick to downplay broader impacts, saying it was "squarely a NSW decision", which would be worked through by the state government.
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which → speak → government
He stressed there would not be implications for either jobs or investment in the sector.
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He → stress → sector
"It is a High Court decision, but it's absolutely confined to the provisions of the New South Wales Act and the way … the planning authority did their work," he told the ABC.
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he → confine → ABC
Resources minister Madeline King agreed it was a "pretty technical ruling" which she believed would not impact other states unless their planning legislation contained similar provisions.
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legislation → agree → provisions
Premier says Queensland laws 'bulletproof'
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laws → say → ?
In Queensland, Australia's largest coal producing state, Premier David Crisafulli sought to allay industry fears, saying the state's "already bulletproof" laws would be amended if needed in response to the ruling.
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laws → produce → ruling
We have the best laws in the country, and we have the highest environmental standards and we are the most pro-mining government in the nation," he said.
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he → have → nation
The state's peak industry association for the resources sector feels the ruling could have further-reaching impacts.
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ruling → feel → impacts
Overseas emissions, known as 'scope three' emissions, are already considered by regulators, according to the Environmental Protection Act.
Brisbane-based environmental activist Ellen Roberts welcomed the New South Wales ruling.
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Roberts → know → ruling
She said it was important for decision makers to take these emissions into account because they impacted not only people overseas but people in Australia.
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they → say → Australia
But Queensland Resources Council chief executive Janette Hewson said she was concerned by any changes to the interpretation of laws and regulation because it increased risk in the sector.
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it → say → sector
We are very concerned that our international partners, whether they're investors or customers, will look at what's been happening in Australia," she said.
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what → look → Australia
"This is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of the challenges our industry faces."
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industry → face → challenges
Those concerns were echoed by the Minerals Council of Australia — the group going as far as to say the ruling would send "shudder's down everyone's spine" in the industry.
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ruling → echo → industry
Its chief executive Tanya Constable described herself as "very concerned", and although she conceded the decision affected New South Wales, said it would set a "bad precedent" in other jurisdictions.
The MCA's concerned the decision would spook investors, leading them to fund overseas projects rather than in Australia.
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decision → describe → Australia
Queensland senator Matt Canavan was even more scathing, imploring "all governments" to overturn the High Court's decision by passing laws through state or federal parliaments.
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Canavan → implore → parliaments
He said it was "ridiculous" to have a situation where the viability of Australian mining projects, as well as jobs, were threatened because of emissions created overseas.
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viability → say → emissions
Regional economic development expert John Rolfe at Central Queensland University agreed further applying that scope three standard could be "very disruptive" to the industry and the state's economy.
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applying → agree → industry
"It would scare off investors because it would increase costs," he explained.
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he → scare → costs
"Industry are watching it really closely because if you look in Queensland, the coal industry is really important."
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industry → watch → Queensland
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