The Queensland Government has today approved expansion of a coal mine that was found by the Queensland Land Court to have failed to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, with the decision condemned by community group Lock the Gate.
Lock the Gate and Coral Rowston from Environmental Advocacy in Central Queensland lodged objections to the Ensham mine, near Emerald in Central Queensland and in March 2025 the Land Court made a decision to recommend against approval of the mine. The Minister is not required to follow the recommendation of the Land Court and the Minister has decided today to approve the mine.
Ellen Roberts, National Coordinator for Lock the Gate, said that the Minister’s unprecedented decision to approve the Ensham mine will lead to more climate disasters for Queenslanders.
"Minister Last conveniently doesn’t mention that the Queensland Land Court recommended against this mine - given that the company had failed to meaningfully reduce the greenhouse gas emissions released during the mining process," she said.
"It is highly unusual, possibly unprecedented, for the Minister not to follow the recommendation from the Land Court.
"Coal mines leak huge amounts of methane gas during the mining process and mines are expected to pull their weight and implement measures to prevent gas leaks, and the Land Court found that Ensham mine’s owners have made no effort to do so."
"In approving this climate-polluting mine the LNP government has sold out the Queenslanders who are dealing with the financial impacts of climate change such as intense flooding, which is only set to get worse as climate change worsens.
"By 2030, coal mines are on track to become the biggest source of Queensland’s emissions, with this decision today it seems the LNP government is determined to give multinational mining companies a free pass when it comes to reducing their emissions."
The mine is also situated on some of Queensland’s best cropping land, putting Queensland's food and water security at risk. 28 coal expansions are currently tabled in Queensland, and if they are all approved would see an estimated 10,614 hectares of wildlife habitat cleared and use a combined 3.7 trillion litres of water.