Auditor's independence declaration

As lead auditor for the audit of Coal & Allied Industries Limited for the year ended 31 December 2008, I declare that to the best of my knowledge and belief, there have been:

a) no contraventions of the auditor independence requirements of the Corporations Act 2001 in relation to the audit; and
b) no contraventions of any applicable code of professional conduct in relation to the audit.

This declaration is in respect of Coal & Allied Industries Limited and the entities it controlled during the period.

Robert Hubbard 
Partner - PricewaterhouseCoopers

Brisbane 27 February 2009