Mine rehabilitation security bonds inadequate, NSW auditor general finds

Greens MP responds to damning report, warning taxpayers are left exposed to footing the bill 'for the huge damage the mining industry is doing to the environment'

Mining companies should be forced to set aside more money for the rehabilitation of mine sites, according to a damning report by the New South Wales auditor general.

While security deposits provided by mining companies have increased from $500m in 2005 to around $2.2bn in 2016 for about 450 mine sites in NSW, the report found the money was still not likely to cover the full costs of each mine's rehabilitation if the company went out of business or the mine suddenly stopped operating.