I had the same impression, but the comment below was in Courier...

I had the same impression, but the comment below was in Courier Mail on 7th Dec (It could just be the journo getting his months wrong, because the "sick bucket" comment is old news).

"
NEARING THE END
NEW Hope’s torturous path to securing approval for its highly-controversial $900 million Acland coal mine expansion is mercifully coming to an end. The Land Court has told New Hope, and the property owners who objected to the project, that it will have its recommendation to the State Government finalised by the end of next month. That should be a relief to both sides, who sat through months of hearings.
At one point Land Court Member Paul Smith complained that the pressure to get through the evidence was so great that he conducted hearings with a bad case of the flu and resorted to a sick bucket under the desk! Once he makes his decision, it will go to Mines Minister Anthony Lynham for consideration.
"