Queensland has more coal mines than ever before

by Rod Campbell

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Remember when BHP threatened that Queensland was going to “rue the day” that coal royalties were changed to get more money for Queenslanders? How mining companies were going to desert the state?

New data from the Queensland Government shows that there are more coal mines in the state now than ever before, with 58 operating in 2024. Production is also up – 224 million tonnes this year compared to 218 million in 2022, although down from the record of 249 million in 2018.

This is obviously terrible news for the world’s climate, the Great Barrier Reef and most life forms on earth.

It also demonstrates that BHP and other mining companies will blatantly lie in their attempts to pay less to governments and communities.

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