Court of Appeal of the Supreme Court of New South Wales

Australia's High Court rules planners must weigh overseas emissions in Mount Pleasant coal mine case

The High Court of Australia on October 7, 2026, dismissed MACH Energy's appeal over its Mount Pleasant coal mine expansion in a 3-2 ruling, finding planning authorities had to consider conditions minimizing all greenhouse gas emissions, including Scope 3 emissions from coal burned overseas. The decision upholds a 2025 NSW Court of Appeal win by a Hunter Valley residents' group.