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New Hope cuts jobs at New Acland coal mine as planned expansion remains stalled

New Hope Corp. Ltd. followed through on its threat to slash half of its workforce at the New Acland coal mine in Queensland, Australia, after the state government did not respond to the company's ultimatum over the long-delayed stage-three expansion of the site.

After flagging job cuts in March, the company dismissed 150 of the site's 300-strong workforce in the morning of Sept. 2 as the employees reported for work.

New Hope, which has been waiting for 12 years to secure approval for the expansion, gave the government until Sept. 1 to grant the approvals of the mining leases, a water license and the use of the Jondaryan rail facility. However, the government's silence gave the company no choice but to proceed with the layoffs, according to a Sept. 2 release.

In a report by The Australian Financial Times, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Resources Minister Anthony Lynham reiterated that the approvals could not be given as they still await a court decision on an appeal against the expansion.

In May 2018, Oakey Coal Action Alliance Inc. filed an appeal against the Supreme Court of Queensland's decision to overturn a previous land court ruling recommending the cancellation of the project due to environmental concerns.