Planned coal mines have been cancelled for not providing enough information. 

Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek has cancelled the applications for two coal mines in Queensland after proponents MacMines Austasia and Stanmore Resources failed to progress them to the approval stage. 

MacMines Austasia had proposed building the China Stone Coal Mine project in Belyando, while Stanmore Resources had plans in place for the Range Coal Project in Wandoan. 

Plibersek said both companies failed to provide updated information on the environmental impacts of the projects, which had been requested over many years, and that she would have “zero tolerance for businesses who refuse to provide adequate information about the impact their projects will have on nature”.

Opposition environment spokesperson Jonno Duniam said the two projects had not updated their applications since mid-2020.

“This is a case – again – of Ms Plibersek trying to pretend that she is making big announcements in her portfolio, when the reality is that it’s just a straightforward administrative action,” Senator Duniam said.