NSW 'accounting trick' lets miners dodge appropriate rehabilitation costs
by Ben Smee from Environment | The Guardian on (#49257)
Exclusive: Lock the Gate accuses state government of placing interests of mining sector over those of taxpayers
New South Wales taxpayers could be shortchanged up to $500m by a state government "accounting trick" that allows mining companies to dodge paying appropriate contingency costs for site rehabilitation.
A 2017 report by the NSW auditor general found that security deposits paid by miners for future rehabilitation were inadequate and made several recommendations, including that the "contingency" costs be increased.
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