This is because Australia long ago mandated the use of filters and electrostatic precipitators to remove the particulates from coal emissions. Without such clean-up, coal-fired power is very dirty indeed.
Incidentally, if I recall correctly those laws were met with howls of protest from the coal lobby over many years, complaining that adding these expensive new components to their plants would drive up costs and make Australia uncompetitive. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
That's funny, I thought Australia's power prices had doubled in the last eight or so years. Increased production costs would have to be one of the major culprits. All increases in production costs are going to be passed on in increased pricing, whether from eight years ago or twenty years ago.
Australian manufacturing is now very uncompetitive and has been shutting down. Examples everyday in the paper. How can you argue against that.??
