The High Court dismissed MACH Energy's appeal and upheld a block on extending the New South Wales mine to 2048. Judges said planners failed to consider conditions on most of the project's emissions.
Australia's High Court on Wednesday dismissed MACH Energy's appeal and upheld a decision blocking a two-decade extension of the Mount Pleasant coal mine in New South Wales, Reuters reported. The court said it was the first climate case to reach the national high court. The judgment is listed as MACH Energy Australia Pty Ltd v Denman Aberdeen Muswellbrook Scone Healthy Environment Group Inc [2026] HCA 35, dated 7 October 2026.
MACH had sought to run the mine, due to stop in December, until 2048 and to double output, which would have allowed another 406 million tons of coal. The New South Wales Independent Planning Commission approved an extension in 2022. A local group from the Hunter Valley won in the state Court of Appeal, and MACH appealed.
Justice James Edelman said scope 3 emissions, mostly from coal burned overseas, were 98 percent of the project's greenhouse gases, and that the commission failed to consider whether conditions should minimise emissions to the greatest extent practicable by looking only at the other 2 percent. The High Court dismissed the appeal with costs.
Wendy Wales, president of the community group, said the court had rejected the idea that exported coal and its climate effects were none of Australia's concern. Lawyer Anita O'Hart said the ruling would bind planning authorities in the state. MACH Energy said it was disappointed, accepted the decision and would review the judgment.
The mine's existing approval still ends in December. No new development application was announced with the ruling.
People Sentiments Mixed
- Wendy Wales said exported coal and its climate effects could not be treated as someone else's problem.
- Anita O'Hart called the ruling historic for Australian environmental law.
- MACH Energy said it was disappointed but accepted the court's decision.