- Griffin Coal to continue operating from 1 July under extended State Agreement
- Extension will provide energy security during the energy transition
- Government subsidy set to be significantly reduced
- Collie Basin Consolidation Taskforce to recommend a future structure for coal assets in the basin
- Western Australia on track to retire all State-owned coal-fired power stations by 2030
The Cook Government has secured the future of one of Collie's most significant coalmines, providing energy security for Western Australian households and businesses during the energy transition.
Griffin Coal will have its State Agreement extended from July 2026 by up to five years, allowing it to continue operations at the Ewington Mine in the Collie Basin and supply coal to industry as well as the privately owned Bluewaters Power Station.
Since 2022, the State Government has provided $308 million in support to Griffin Coal, supporting thousands of local jobs and supporting energy security across the South West Interconnected System.
In 2025, Premier Roger Cook called on industry to deliver a commercial outcome for the future of Griffin Coal.
Advanced negotiations with Griffin's major direct and indirect customers are set to significantly reduce the subsidy required from July 1.
Details will be provided to Parliament once the new commercial arrangements are finalised.
The government will also immediately form the Collie Basin Consolidation Taskforce, to develop a detailed proposal to government on a future structure for the coal assets in the basin, considering whether the basin's two mines - operated by Griffin and Premier Coal - would be more efficiently mined by a single entity.
Comprised of mine operators, lenders, major customers, unions and government representatives, the Taskforce will be chaired by Department of Premier and Cabinet director general Michael Carey.
It will be tasked with reporting back to the Premier within six months.
As stated by Premier Roger Cook:
"My government is focused on delivering energy security for households and businesses as it diversifies Western Australia's economy.
"Collie remains critical to our government's vision of becoming a renewable energy powerhouse, with coal fired power generation underpinning energy security and affordability as we build our major new transmission lines to connect large scale wind and solar to the grid.
"This is in addition to hosting Synergy's $1 billion big battery, which is storing excess solar and wind energy during the day, for use during peak periods for up to 780,000 Western Australian homes.
"The extension of the Griffin Coal State Agreement will provide certainty to the Collie community and underpin energy security for households and businesses across the South West Interconnected System, including Perth, as we deliver the energy transition."
As stated by Energy and Decarbonisation Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson:
"Our commitment to retire State-owned coal by 2030 remains.
"Renewables firmed by batteries and gas is the least cost mix for households and businesses - and that is what we are delivering.
"Extending the State Agreement is a sensible, pragmatic step to provide certainty for industry, the Collie community and the power system as we deliver the energy transition."
As stated by South West Minister Don Punch:
"This decision provides certainty for Collie workers and families, protecting local jobs as we continue the town's transition to new industries through the Collie Just Transition framework.
"Collie has powered Western Australia for generations, and through the Just Transition we're supporting existing jobs while creating new, secure work as we build a cleaner energy future for the South West."
As stated by Collie-Preston MLA Jodie Hanns:
"I strongly welcome the extension of the Griffin Coal State Agreement and development of the taskforce.
"This decision delivers the certainty that workers and the community deserve as we drive forward with the Collie Just Transition. It also safeguards the stability of the South West Interconnected System network during this critical phase of our energy transformation.
"My focus remains unwavering: I will continue fighting for our community and securing the strongest possible future for Collie."
