NSW Approves $3bn Hunter Valley Coal Extension to 2045, Climate Groups Demand Federal Veto

New South Wales has approved a major expansion of Hunter Valley coal operations by Glencore and Yancoal, allowing mining to continue until at least 2045. The $3bn approval is a state-level decision, but climate groups are calling on the federal government to intervene and block the project under national environmental law. The extension would keep significant coal production running for another two decades, raising questions about Australia's ability to meet its emissions reduction targets. The mine supplies both domestic and export markets, so the impact depends partly on where the coal goes. For anyone tracking carbon policy, this is a key test of whether state approvals can be overridden at the federal level, and what that means for coal phase-out timelines in a major exporting country.