More than 60 mining industry stakeholders joined a roundtable, held in Cessnock, to provide insights on the establishment of Future Jobs and Investment Authorities in coal-producing regions.
The New South Wales Minister for Natural Resources, Courtney Houssos, the New South Wales Minister for Energy, Penny Sharpe, and the Mayor of Cessnock, Jay Suvaal, hosted the roundtable on Tuesday 8 August 2023.
New authorities will be established in the Hunter, Illawarra, Central West and North West to create jobs, re-skill workers and advance economic diversification.
The authorities will work with the Federal Government’s Net Zero Authority to support workers, industries and communities to seize transformational opportunities. The New South Wales Government is also considering how they will work with existing Royalties for Rejuvenation Regional Expert Panels.
The roundtable is an important first step to creating the authorities and will be followed up with further discussions in the Hunter, as well as stakeholder roundtables across the state.
During the meeting, participants spoke of a commitment to work together to create opportunities to secure a strong future for the Hunter Region.
Ms Houssos said that it is vital that the State Government consult with workers and industry to better understand what support they will need.
“We want to ensure no one gets left behind and that they are well prepared for the opportunities in the future,” Ms Houssos said.
“We only have one chance to put in place the right structures, policies and supports for communities to flourish in the post-coal era.
“We know our future productivity will rely on the economic diversification and workforce planning that we do now. That’s why we are working with local stakeholders to identify ways we can help workers and their families in mining regions prepare for a strong future.
“We recognise there is strong interest to explore how new industries can develop on mined land following mine closures. There is a great deal of energy and good will to make this happen and it was great to hear such a wide range of views as to how we can support these new economic opportunities.”
Ms Sharpe said that New South Wales’s coal sector is changing.
“It is vital we work with coal communities to take action now to ensure New South Wales’s economy and these communities continue to grow and prosper,” Ms Sharpe said.
“We are committed to collaborating with local communities, industry and workers to develop bespoke plans which prioritise future industry and workforce needs.
“We know there is already substantial work underway and clever ideas being generated from the Hunter, and so it’s timely that the State Government listens and learns from our important Hunter stakeholders to bring together and build on what has already been done.”
Mr Suvaal said that the government’s work to promote economic diversification requires a sustained and authentic local engagement, and hosting the first roundtable in Cessnock shows how serious the New South Wales Government is about getting it right.
“This is about supporting our communities, and supporting our workers and their families, while ensuring they have every opportunity as the area moves towards new and emerging industries,” Mayor Suvaal said.
BHP New South Wales Energy Coal Vice President, Adam Lancey, welcomed the opportunity to consult on the creation of the authorities and looks forward to future engagement around how government and industry can work together towards a brighter future.
“We are currently exploring what might be possible when mining ends at Mt Arthur Coal so we can leave a positive legacy in the Hunter Valley,” Mr Lancey said.
Mining and Energy Union Northern Mining and New South Wales Energy District President, Robin Williams, said that the mining and energy industries in the Hunter have made the region an economic powerhouse for New South Wales, but that changes in the economy will have real implications for regional jobs in the years and decades ahead.
“I commend the New South Wales Government for bringing stakeholders together for a practical discussion about the investment we will need to ensure Hunter residents can continue to access quality, skilled jobs and the region has a bright future.”
