Qld coal industry forms advocacy group to push back against opponents

A national advocacy group has been formed by Queensland’s coal industry which has been “beaten about the head with a blunt stick”.

Queensland coal bosses have united to form a national not-for-profit advocacy group to promote the contribution of the industry they claim is shrinking in the wake of the state’s royalty regime.

Bowen Coking Coal executive chairman Nick Jorss has launched Coal Australia, with Whitehaven Coal and New Hope Group among the members signed on so far.

Mr Jorss said the organisation, of which he is chairman, would provide a specific voice for Australia’s coal community, supporting producers and associated businesses primarily focused on coal production and export.

“The coal industry has frankly been sort of beaten around the head with a blunt stick,” he said.

“There is a view in the industry that we need to come together and, at the very least, stand up for ourselves and point out some of the truths and facts around what we do contribute in terms of jobs, regional prosperity and what we put in the Australian economy.”

Mr Jorss said Queensland’s royalty regime, approval times and overregulation had shut mines and made the state a very hard place to do business despite global demand for coal.

He said the closure of Bowen Coking Coal’s Bluff Mine alone had cost 300 jobs.

Bowen Coking Coal executive chairman Nick Jorss at The Courier-Mail’s Future Resources forum last month

“We’ve got some of the best (metallurgical) and thermal coal around for export and it just beggars belief that our industry at the moment is shrinking,” he said.

“We could have a viable and equitable royalties regime with the coal industry continuing to pay its share.”

Premier Steven Miles, speaking at The Courier-Mail’s Future Resources event in July, revealed cabinet had taken advice from Queensland Treasury on all the likely implications of the revised three tier royalty changes.

Mr Miles conceded there was a lack of consultation saying “there are necessarily times where you need to be able to announce a thing before it can be widely discussed.”

Mr Jorss said the admission was shocking.

“It is disappointing that is the way the biggest industry in Queensland, with tens of thousands of employees, is dealt with by any government,” he said.

“I think as an industry we haven’t always prosecuted our own case to the best of our ability and that’s what we want to do so we’re in these debates, and we don’t just get steamrolled by governments looking to fill a hole in the budget.”

Treasurer Cameron Dick said the revised coal royalty tiers had delivered $9.4 billion in the past two years. He also claimed the coal industry had “never been stronger”.

“(This) has allowed us to deliver at least $1550 in electricity rebates to every Queensland household,” he said.

“Royalties have also allowed us to continue building the roads, schools, hospitals and employ the teachers, police and nurses our growing state needs.”

New Hope Group CEO Rob Bishop said coal communities, particularly in regional Queensland, were being held back by “never-ending legal challenges”.

“Regional communities proposer with employment, social and business opportunities created by our industry developing and operating coal mines,” he said.

Whitehaven Coal Managing Director and CEO Paul Flynn said the scale and economic contribution of coal mining and related industries was not well understood or “deliberately understated”.

“Coal Australia will amplify the voices of coal communities right across the country,” he said.

Mr Jorss said the new organisation would work alongside and not in competition with the Minerals Council of Australia, Queensland Resources Council and NSW Minerals Council.

“There are some specific issues that impact coal disproportionately to other mining entities and industries and so that’s where we will play,” he said.

Mr Dick said he looked forward to working with Coal Australia in the future.