Stowing has been successfully used in many countries as a means of controlling surface subsidence, minimi ing incidences of spontaneous combustion, maintaining gate road stability and maximising coal recovery.Australian experience in stowing is limited but in the future increased extraction of thicker and/or multiple seams by longwall operations and resolution of conflict of alternative land u'ses may necessitate the use of stowing in coal mining. At present there is little incentive for mining companies to introduce and operate a stowing system because costs have to be borne by the individual companies and benefits spill over to society and the State. Cost sharing by the industry and State incentives may overcome the problem of cost disincentive.