Hunter Jobs Alliance

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Hunter Jobs Alliance

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Working to maintain well-paid and secure jobs in the Hunter as the energy market changes.

28/10/2026

When a mine’s approval is threatened, the warnings are familiar: jobs will be lost and communities will suffer. Yet mining companies fail to plan to transition their workers and support communities through closure.

Hunter Jobs Alliance Coordinator Justin Page asks:

How can mining companies use the socioeconomic impacts they’ve failed to plan for to justify extensions?

Read the full article below to hear what needs to change. 👇

25/10/2026

The Future Jobs and Investment Bill has passed Parliament, marking a major moment for the Hunter and NSW’s coal regions.

The authority will attract investment into new industries, support workers through the closures ahead and give communities a direct say.

However, the bill can’t be properly established until the regulations are finalised, which set out who sits on the Local Divisions and the Board, how they’re appointed and how workers are represented.

After three years of consultation, those regulations must be the government’s first priority. If the authority isn’t up and running before the state election in March, workers and communities could be left waiting, again.

An interim Future Jobs and Investment Authority chief executive will be appointed in the near future.

21/10/2026

We’re pleased to share that The Future Jobs and Investment Authority (FJIA) Bill has now passed both Houses of NSW Parliament!

This achievement demonstrates what can be accomplished when unions, environmental organisations, community groups, business and industry work together towards a shared vision for the future of the Hunter and NSW's other coal regions.

The FJIA will deliver economic diversification, industry attraction and job creation across NSW’s four coal regions, including the Hunter. It also requires mine operators to develop workforce transition plans to support workers affected by mine closures.

14/10/2026

This week the Coalition said it supports the Future Jobs and Investment Bill in principle and has been waiting for the government to list it for debate. The Resources Minister has said “we need to debate this bill,” and the Premier has urged the crossbench and Coalition to get it to a vote.

The bill has sat in the upper house since March without a second reading speech. A bill can’t get a vote if it isn’t debated.

Move the bill the top of the order of business, debate it this week and get it passed.

Labor and the Opposition accuse each other of delay Future Jobs and Investment bill.

12/10/2026

For the past four years, NSW has committed $25 million a year to the Future Jobs and Investment Fund, shared across four coal regions. That’s less than 1% of the $2.84 billion NSW collected in coal royalties in 2025-26.

Victoria has pledged to return every cent of its minerals royalties to the regions, an estimated $500 million over four years.

NSW coal regions need a fair share. We are seeking a commitment to increase the Future Jobs and Investment Fund to $150 million per year, around 5% of annual coal royalties.

08/10/2026

Last sitting week, the NSW Government had the Future Jobs and Investment Bill 22nd on the Legislative Council’s order of business.

This week the Premier called it “absolutely crucial in terms of investment and jobs” and urged the crossbench and Coalition to “at least get it to a vote.”

A bill can’t get a vote if it never gets debated, and it has sat in the upper house since March without a second reading speech.

The government controls how it lists its own business. If it’s serious about protecting Hunter workers and communities, it should put this bill at the top of oder of business and make it a priority.

Legislation needed to diversify the Hunter's economy may not pass before state election.

28/09/2026

Renewables 🤝 Heavy industry

The 1.4GW Bungaban wind farm is one of several wind, solar and battery projects Rio Tinto has contracted to replace the ageing Gladstone coal-fired power station. 80% of its output will go to Rio Tinto's Gladstone aluminium smelter and refineries, with the rest going to the grid.

The future of heavy industry is powered by renewables. Tomago aluminium is on the same path.

07/09/2026

You can't claim to protect workers and dismiss the legislation that enforces it.

The latest comment by Hunter Valley Operations (HVO) exposes exactly that. In a response to the Planning Commission, HVO argues the Future Jobs and Investment Bill shouldn't be given "significant weight" because there's "no certainty" it'll ever pass.

More than 20 years ago, HVO was required to develop a mine exit strategy to protect workers and minimise the socioeconomic impacts on the Singleton and Muswellbrook communities. The strategy disappeared, and HVO then sought to remove the requirement. They now use the very socioeconomic impacts they failed to plan for as an argument for extending the mine.

Mining companies must be legally required to plan early, fund and facilitate worker transition, and be held accountable.

19/08/2026

Trying to make sense of the Tomago aluminium smelter deal?

Here's an informed perspective from Roy Green: https://tinyurl.com/tomago-aluminium-deal

The deal to save the Tomago aluminium smelter is no ordinary bail-out. It’s the result of more than year’s negotiations with a return to the taxpayer, the workforce, the shareholders and the planet.

Address

Level 2, Hunter Workers Building 406-408 King Street
Newcastle, NSW
2302

Website

http://hunterjobsalliance.org.au/

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