FWIW I believe I've located the primary source for most of the ABC News coverage [1]. Its embedded in a scare mongering (I mean public awareness there) site which does not appear to be affiliated with ABC News. [2]

Under full disclosure rules I must share that I am not a chemist.

[1] http://www.psr.org/assets/pdfs/coal-ash.pdf

[2] http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/42476.html