The Australian government has opened the door to using a $5 billion fund designed to attract investment in northern Australia, to develop clean-coal projects.
More than 150 scientists from 33 institutions signed a letter warning the Australian government of the mounting threats to the Great Barrier Reef from new coal ports and other industrial projects.
Capital expenditure in mining peaked last year, stabilized in the second half of 2012 and then plunged steeply in the March quarter, wiping almost $1.5 billion off Australia's quarterly output.