Road Ahead Looking Good, page-22

Here is what caused the recent drop from 205c to 171c regarding the proposed water permit Bill amendments:

Recommendation 1
The committee recommends that the Bill be passed.

But in the report is the following:

The committee has significant concerns about the flow-on impacts of any interruption of production at New Acland, and in similar projects. The number of projects in a similar situation, the number of anticipated job losses and the economic and social impact on rural and regional communities are all beyond the ability of the committee to ascertain in the time available.

Recommendation 2
The committee recommends that the Minister examine the impact on relevant mining licence holders’ short-term prospects, and the resulting impacts on affected communities, and present his findings in the Bill’s second reading speech.

So I think the Minister has sufficient justification to exempt NHC from the proposed water permit changes.