Tahmoor mine expansion critical , coal boss says, as IPC hears MP s claims of smear campaign
MonMonday 15
updated
MonMonday 15
FebFebruary 2021 at 6:54am
Tahmoor Coal wants to extract an additional 33 million tonnes of coal for steelmaking over 10 years, which would extend the life of the colliery until 2032.
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A New South Wales Liberal MP has accused supporters of a mine expansion project of launching a smear campaign against him following his opposition to the plan.
Key points:
The IPC is considering Tahmoor Coal s plans to extend the life of its mine until 2032
Wollondilly MP Nathaniel Smith has been vocal in his opposition to the plan
Australia: Highly infectious strain of COVID spreads in Queensland hotel quarantine
Over the past day, four new cases of the highly-infectious B117 variant of COVID-19 have been discovered among returned travelers in Brisbane hotels, sparking fears of a broader spread of the virus and again highlighting the inadequate character of the quarantine system in Queensland and across the country.
Last week, Queensland authorities revealed that a young cleaner who worked in the quarantine at Brisbane’s Hotel Grand Chancellor had contracted the new iteration of the virus. BII7 is up to 70 percent more infectious than other forms of COVID-19, and has driven the massive surge of cases and deaths in Britain that threatens to overwhelm that country’s hospital system.
Last modified on Sat 9 Jan 2021 14.02 EST
The Australian government is facing fresh calls to offer increased assistance to the people of Hong Kong with just 3,000 having benefited from visa concessions granted six months ago.
The push for Australia to do more comes after Hong Kong police arrested more than 50 people, including pro-democracy politicians and campaigners, in early morning raids on Wednesday.
The Australian prime minister, Scott Morrison, announced in July the government would allow a range of visa holders from Hong Kong to stay in the country for five more years and then offer them a pathway to permanent residency. But the Coalition stopped short of creating a special humanitarian intake for Hongkongers who feared persecution under the sweeping new national security law imposed by Beijing.