Peabody sees coal attraction growing AUSTRALIA'S coal assets are starting to look attractive to major global companies as costs decrease and the Australian dollar falls, according to the head of Peabody Energy, which has cut more than 600 staff in one month from its Australian operations. Greg Boyce, chairman and chief executive of the privately owned US coal giant, said Australia was looking increasingly competitive again given its improving cost structure, proximity to the best end markets and recent favourable currency movements.