Queensland Resources Council says 25 per cent of the state’s coal miners can’t break even

A grim warning from Queensland's resources chief reveals unprecedented pressure on the state's coal sector as one in four miners operate in the red.

Janette Hewson, chief executive of the Queensland Resources Council.

Queensland Resources Council chief executive Janette Hewson has issued a stark warning that up to 25 per cent of coal miners in the state are in the red as costs and stubbornly lower prices eat into wafter thin margins.

Hewson (illustrated) told Citybeat that the sector was “doing it tough”.

“We’ve been doing quite a bit of work trying to understand market conditions for our members,” she says.

“We’ve been looking at production costs which tend to usually be an understatement.

“When you look at coal pricing at the moment it’s stubbornly low – hovering around the $US170 to $US190 a tonne mark for metallurgical coal – and there’s nothing left over.

“For many miners – we believe about 25 per cent – they’re not even at the break even point.”

Up 25 per cent of Queensland coal miners are in the red.

Hewson says she was in the coal sector for 13 years – including a long stint with Peabody Energy – and over that time she only experienced three good years.

“What happens is that most companies ride out the bad times. We’re confident there will continue to be long-term demand, even though at the moment times are very tough.”

Inspiring

Few corporate types in Brisbane have a better story than Cameron Carr.

The son of inaugural State of Origin team member Norm Carr, he was destined to follow his father to the big time.

Carr was signed by the Sydney Roosters as a teenager and ready to head south until the club told him to wait in Brisbane for two more weeks while they sorted accommodation.

The following weekend, he was the innocent passenger in a vehicle that crashed. He suffered spinal injuries and has not walked since.

Perception Performance director Cameron Carr.

That was more than 20 years ago and Carr has since put behind some struggling years to become a Paralympic and world champion in wheelchair rugby, or “murderball” as it’s known for his physical clashes.

He retired from that sport a few years ago and launched a very promising corporate career with Anglo-American.

Carr is now running his own show at Perception Performance.

He’s working with organisations to develop diversity and inclusion practices.

“Too often, diversity and inclusion efforts are surface-level, well intentioned, but not embedded in the everyday systems, mindsets, and leadership practices that truly shape outcomes. That’s where I come in,” Carr said.

“I help organisations shift from token approaches to genuinely focus on all employees having the same access to the same opportunities to grow, lead, and perform.”

Farewell

Coal Australia founder and chairman Nick Jorss with step down from his role at Australia’s only dedicated coal advocacy body.

Chief executive of New Hope Group Rob Bishop will take over form Jorss.

Jorse, whose company he founded – Bowen Coking Coal when into administration a few weeks ago – has agreed to assist Coal Australia in an advisory capacity focused on further growing CA’s membership through the value chain of Australia’s coal sector.

“It’s been a privilege to help represent the interests of our coal communities and shine a light on some of the specific challenges our sector faces,” Jorss says.

“I know CA will keep being a strong voice for a sector that does so much to underpin our national prosperity.”