The New South Wales Government is introducing legislation to protect up to 400 jobs at MACH Energy’s Mount Pleasant coal mine in the Hunter Valley, following legal uncertainty surrounding the operation’s expansion approval.
The Mount Pleasant Mine Bill 2026 would allow the mine to continue operating at its current production and workforce levels until 2032, or until a new planning consent is granted.
Under the proposed legislation, Mount Pleasant would be permitted to produce up to 16.5 million tonnes of coal annually, while MACH Energy would be required to enter into a legally enforceable jobs guarantee.
The guarantee would protect permanent workers at the operation, with quarterly workforce reporting requirements and significant penalties for unauthorised reductions in staffing.
NSW Minister for the Hunter Yasmin Catley said the legislation would provide greater certainty for workers and their families.
“Families across the Hunter have worked in our coal mines for generations. They don’t need uncertainty hanging over their heads at Christmas – they need to know their jobs are safe, and this Bill delivers that,” Catley said.
The proposed legislation follows an October 7 High Court judgment concerning the mine’s 2022 Independent Planning Commission approval. The ruling clarified requirements for assessing greenhouse gas emissions associated with coal burned overseas, with MACH Energy subsequently reaffirming its commitment to operating within the applicable legal framework.
The mine’s planning application has since returned to the Land and Environment Court, prompting government intervention to prevent potential workforce stand-downs while proceedings continue.
NSW Minister for Natural Resources Courtney Houssos said the government was prepared to intervene where existing planning arrangements created uncertainty.
“Where there is uncertainty because of decisions made under old frameworks, our government has shown we are willing to step in,” Houssos said.
“This mine was approved under the previous Government’s framework. While MACH Energy works through the court process, we need to make sure the mine’s workers – to put it simply – keep their jobs.”
The latest announcement builds on the government’s earlier commitment to safeguard Mount Pleasant employment, which followed concerns that reduced production could threaten hundreds of positions.
The legislation would also introduce Scope 3 emissions conditions, including restrictions on coal exports to countries without emissions reduction policies aligned with the Paris Agreement.
These requirements would be consistent with conditions recently applied to Hunter Valley Operations.
As part of its broader NSW Coal Industry 2026–50 strategy, the government is seeking to balance continued mining employment with emissions reduction objectives and longer-term regional economic planning.
The Bill would also give the Minister for Natural Resources last-resort powers to halt mining operations if MACH Energy breaches its workforce guarantee.
The proposed protections would take effect only after MACH Energy signs the required jobs agreement.