Whitehaven Coal managing director Paul Flynn says the decision of Peabody, the world's biggest private coal miner, to seek bankruptcy protection, was "troubling" but would lend some support to the industry by pushing tonnes from the market.

Mr Flynn, who was speaking after Whitehaven posted a fresh quarterly production record, said Peabody's move on Wednesday to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the United States was "always going to happen".