Reprieve for Abbott's booby after Christmas Island mining expansion ruled out

Coalition says phosphate exploration would have had unacceptable impact on endangered seabird

The Turnbull government has knocked back a controversial phosphate exploration proposal on Christmas Island "because it is likely to have significant and unacceptable impacts on matters protected under national environment law".

Phosphate Resources Limited - the owners of a phosphate mine on Christmas Island - had proposed to clear 6.83ha of land and undertake exploration drilling along 44 survey lines in an effort to determine the extent of the additional phosphate resources on Christmas Island.