The only people that are keen to see the mines open up around...

The only people that are keen to see the mines open up around latrobe valley and gippsland are the owners of the EL's.
There is so much available coal in the existing "blue zone" that no Govt (in this carbon constrained environment) would take the risk of massive voter backlash as a result of handing over prime dairy land to an open cut brown coal mine.

I will run nude down Collins st if a mining licence is ever granted to any company outside the "blue zone" within 2 years.

IMO, its a red herring designed to add the perception of value to a company's suite of EL's. Most of the EL owners are now trying to sell options over these EL's so approval of even 1 mining licence is an important valuation event.