Yasmin Catley, Minister for the Hunter; Courtney Houssos, Minister for Natural Resources; Paul Scully, Minister for Planning and Public Spaces; Tara Moriarty, Minister for Regional NSW · Original source
New planning controls have been finalised for former coal mining land at the Mt Arthur Coal Mine near Muswellbrook and the Macquarie Coal Complex at West Wallsend, which the Albanese and Minns Labor Governments say could unlock more than 7,000 jobs in the Hunter. The BHP-owned Mt Arthur site, due to end mining in 2030, covers 5,700 hectares with up to 5,900 jobs, while the Macquarie site has a 1,142-hectare employment precinct with up to 1,130 jobs. Land will be released only once rehabilitated.
Dale Last, Minister for Natural Resources and Mines, Minister for Manufacturing and Minister for Regional and Rural Development · Original source
The Queensland Government has opened the Queensland Resources Common User Facility in Townsville, an Australian-first purpose-built site where companies can test and validate critical minerals processing methods at scale without building their own demonstration plants. The facility will initially focus on vanadium, with capacity to expand to cobalt and rare earth elements, and Vecco Group is its foundation customer. It is part of a $146.1 million critical minerals investment in the 2026-27 Budget, Natural Resources and Mines Minister Dale Last said.
Jaclyn Symes, Minister for Energy and Resources · Original source
The Victorian Government says the production licence for GB Energy’s $1 billion Golden Beach Gas Project off Ninety Mile Beach in Gippsland has been approved. The project will produce gas from 2028 before the offshore field is converted into storage from 2029, boosting Victoria’s gas storage capacity by around 70 per cent to help meet peak winter demand forecast by AEMO. Energy and Resources Minister Jaclyn Symes said it would mean more gas ready for winter and less pressure on prices.
Jim Chalmers, Treasurer; Daniel Mulino, Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services · Original source
Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Assistant Treasurer Daniel Mulino have opened consultation on financial sector deregulation measures they say will cut red tape by $780 million a year. The proposals would raise the cap on banks’ covered bond issuance, align Financial Accountability Regime reporting for smaller banks with prudential thresholds, and double the withdrawal limit for deceased estate expenses from $15,000 to $30,000. Sunsetting banking regulations would be remade before 1 April 2027, with implementation intended from later this year.
Penny Sharpe, Minister for Environment and Heritage; Tara Moriarty, Minister for Agriculture and Minister for Regional NSW; Janelle Saffin, Minister for Small Business and Minister for the North Coast · Original source
NSW Parliament has passed legislation creating the Great Koala National Park, adding 178,000 hectares of state forest and other Crown land on the Mid North Coast that is home to around 12,000 koalas and more than 100 other threatened species. Combined with existing reserves, the park will span more than 475,000 hectares and is on track to open before the end of the year after the Clean Energy Regulator approved its carbon project. Around 100 new National Parks and Wildlife Service roles are being created.
