Caroona Coal Action Group Inc v Coal Mines Australia Pty Limited and Minister for Mineral Resources (No 4).

In this case the Caroona Coal Action Group had argued that the public interest in the principle of open justice should defeat the confidentiality orders sought by Coal Mines Australia Pty Limited to restrict public access to its Expression of Interest ( EOI ) in the Caroona mining exploration license. Chief Justice Preston rejected the Caroona Coal Action Group's arguments; finding that particular statements and data in the EOI were confidential. Preston held that confidentiality orders should be made which would continue to restrict access to the whole EOI solely to the Caroona Coal Action Group's legal advisors; a Redacted EOI be produced and filed which would allow public access to the EOI without the confidential material; and that these orders would not offend the principle of open justice.