One of Victoria’s worst kept secrets over the past year has been the intention of the State Government to expand the state’s involvement in the coal industry.

A draft cabinet submission shows that the Baillieu government is preparing a campaign to promote further development of Victoria's brown coal reserves.

Today’s announcement that coal mining will be allowed to continue at Anglesea is possibly the worst in a long list of bad environmental decisions since the Baillieu government was elected, according to Friends of the Earth.

Mecrus Resources has lodged applications for Exploration Permits for districts in south-western Victoria.

The company lists mineral sands, brown and black and coal bed methane (also called CSG), gold, silver, platinum and other minerals amongst the resources it wants to explore for.

Community action group Stop HRL and Friends of the Earth have reacted angrily today to the Environment Protection Authority's decision to approve the staged construction of a new coal-fired power station for the La Trobe Valley.

Friends of the Earth has welcomed the extra detail released yesterday by The Greens on how they propose to bring about the closure of the Hazelwood power station.

It maps a viable pathway to see the rapid and complete closure of the ageing Hazelwood plant, and also makes positive commitments on the proposed HRL power station and possible future coal exports.

HRL has re-submitted its application for environmental approval for its proposed power station, which would use new gasification technology to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from burning coal.

There is an Age report here.

Friends of the Earth calls on the Premier to reject the proposal, and rule out any new coal‐fired power stations in Victoria.

Friends of the Earth media release.

Last night, the Lower House of Parliament passed the Mineral Resources (Sustainable Development) Amendment Bill 2013 (MRSDA).

Friends of the Earth. Media release.

Gelliondale Resources, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ignite Energy Resources Limited, is currently applying for a Retention Licence to facilitate the development of the Gelliondale Coal Project in South Gippsland.

Friends of the Earth media release.

Friends of the Earth has welcomed today’s announcement by the Premier that the moratorium on the process of unconventional gas fracking will be extended at least until June 2015.

Friends of the Earth media release

With the Coalition in power federally, there is already increased pressure nation wide to develop new coal and gas projects. Tony Abbott has promised to cut ‘Green tape’ which might hold up mining projects and other developments. And Federal Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane has declared that he will ensure that “every molecule of gas that can come out of the ground does so.”