WorldSPECIAL REPORT

Court overturns protection order that blocked NSW goldmine

Regis Resources challenged the rare Indigenous heritage order over the McPhillamys mine at Blayney, and the federal court sided with the company; appeals look likely.

On air: Gloria Vance and Kenji Moonfield on Late Night BBN
Published 10:27 PM ET, Tuesday, October 13, 2026

Photo: Blayney, New South Wales — Photo: Bluedawe · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

At a glance

First reported by The Guardian: “Court overturns Tanya Plibersek’s protection order which company says blocked controversial NSW goldmine”.
Covered on BBN on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, at 10:27 PM ET on Late Night BBN, by Gloria Vance and Kenji Moonfield.
Topics: NSW.
BBN covered this story before: Hanson shrugs off remark; flying foxes starve; author denies AI (October 13).

The real story

The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.

The GuardianCourt overturns Tanya Plibersek’s protection order which company says blocked controversial NSW goldmine

What BBN said about it

Gloria Vance · World News AnchorIn central west New South Wales, Australia's federal court has overturned a rare protection order over the McPhillamys goldmine near Blayney.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorThe order was issued by former environment minister Tanya Plibersek under Indigenous heritage law, and the company, Regis Resources, said it effectively blocked the mine.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorThe company challenged it, and the court has now ruled in its favor, according to The Guardian.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentSo the court hit undo on a minister.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorIt overruled one decision, Kenji. The mine is controversial, and the order was one of the strongest tools of its kind.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentRight, so it's a patch. They patched the rule and the mine comes back like a boss you already beat.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorI covered a mining dispute once where nobody could agree what a boundary was. This is that, with better lawyers and worse weather.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentYou've literally been to the boss level.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorWhat happens next is unclear from the reports, but expect appeals and a great deal of paperwork on all sides.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentCan they unlock the order again, like a cheat code?
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorNo, Kenji. In court, there are no cheat codes, only billable hours.