Thousands of coal worker jobs at risk as bill hangs in balance, advocates warn
Tens of thousands of NSW coal workers face losing their jobs with no warning or safety net as a bill aimed at protecting those in the fraught sector sits in Upper House purgatory.
The NSW government’s Future Jobs and Investment Bill 2025 was introduced in late 2025 and is touted as a strategic intervention to protect coal or coal-fired power workers from “structural economic change”.
Tahmoor Coking Coal Mine in Bargo, NSW. Oscar Colman
But the government has been accused of “sitting on its hands” as the bill remains stalled in the Upper House, despite bipartisan support.
It passed the Legislative Assembly on March 18 and has been gathering dust for four months.
Once made law, NSW mine owners will be obligated to give early notice of mine closures and prepare transition plans for redundant workers.
It comes after resources giant Yancoal announced it will pull the plug on its Ashton mine site in Camberwell by 2028, with 60 employees immediately stood down and hundreds of workers left facing redundancy.
Another 69 workers will be impacted by early 2027 and a final 146 employees could lose their jobs by the site’s official closure in February 2028.
Yancoal blamed “significant technical challenges and operational risks” along with evolving market conditions for the decision to close Ashton.
The ASX-listed company told Nine.com.au on Tuesday that it would work closely with impacted staff, including redeployment and career transition.
In the 2023-2024 financial year, the NSW coal mining industry employed 25,800 people.
A map of coal mining sites in NSW. NSW Mining
Hunter Renewal Coordinator Steve Phillips said there are 15,000 coal workers in the Hunter region alone who have been “left in the lurch” as the bill stalls in parliament.
He said livelihood should not depend on the good will of mining companies
“Decisions to close a mine can be made very suddenly,” Phillips told nine.com.au.
“Communities in the Hunter are economically reliant on these jobs and the money that it brings in.
“So we can’t be left at the whims of the mining companies.”
Coal mines face mass closures
Australia’s coal industry is rapidly shrinking.
Analysis shared by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) projects that nearly 240 Australian mines, many of them coal, will be closed by 2040.
“We need obligations in place to ready our regions, especially the Hunter,” Phillips added.
“That’s what this bill from the NSW government will begin to do, and it’s very welcome, but it needs more urgency.
“It needs to be in place now and it needs to be strengthened.
“Otherwise, the ripple effects on communities will be potentially catastrophic.”
Yancoal's Ashton site will be closed by 2028. Photo: Peter Rae
District President for Northern Mining and NSW Energy District MEU Robin Williams said Ashton’s closure is a sober reminder of what thousands of coal workers face in the next few years.
“The reality is that coal mines close for many reasons. Whether it’s geology, economics or the energy transition, the impact on workers, their families and regional communities is the same,” Williams said.
“We need stronger action from state and federal governments to support displaced coal workers and invest in new industries in our regions, but coal companies should not wait for government to make them to the right thing.
“They’ve made billions out of our coal and should do right by workers in terms of retraining, redeployment and planning for the future.”
Singleton mayor Sue Moore has also called for “less talk and more action” in response to the changing face of coal in the state.
Statement from NSW Minister for Natural Resources Courtney Houssos
“The Ashton closure is distressing news for workers and their families. Our priority is making sure those workers are supported.
“We understand how important coal mining is to the Hunter’s economy – that’s why we are giving certainty to industry and workers through our Coal Industry 2026-50 document, and legislating our Future Jobs and Investment Authority.
“The Hunter will remain a major coal-producing region for decades to come, with a strong pipeline of work and a highly skilled workforce.
“Our plan for the Future Jobs and Investment Authority is currently before the Legislative Council and is crucial as we build a new capability in government support workers, families and communities.
“It will also open up a new $150 million Future Jobs and Investment Fund to partner with local communities to deliver workforce planning, investment attraction and post-mine land use to enable mine sites to continue to support jobs, as they have for decades.
“This is an important reform led by the Minns Labor Government to support workers, families and communities and I urge all parties to support it in the parliament.”
Nine.com.au has also contacted NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey for comment.
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