Coal companies to reap billions more in taxpayer diesel subsidies as Labor approves new mining

Treasury has forecast the diesel subsidy will cost $47bn over the next four years. Photograph: Jessica Hromas/The Guardian

Coal companies could receive an extra $6.2bn in taxpayer refunds for the diesel they use if the Albanese government greenlights just half the mine developments up for approval.

The finding, in an analysis released by activist group Lock the Gate, comes as the government faces an internal campaign before next month’s Labor party national conference to commit to winding back a fuel tax credit scheme for multinational miners.