NSW coal mining jobs soar despite Blockade Australia protests

Despite Blockade Australia protesters’ attempts to shut down the coal industry, NSW jobs in the mining sector are the highest they’ve been in more than a decade.

Despite Blockade Australia protesters’ attempts to shut down the coal industry, jobs in the mining sector are at the highest in NSW for more than a decade.

New figures from Coal Services show that almost 25,000 people were employed in the coal mining industry - the highest result since September 2012.

Coal exports are worth $26.4 billion a year to NSW but last week the industry was severely disrupted by protesters with a ninth activist arrested on top of a coal loader at Port Waratah on Friday.

Premier Chris Minns has vowed to clamp down on the activists and has sought a meeting with Facebook’s company Meta to try and block activists from broadcasting details of illegal protests on social media.

Minerals Council chief executive Stephen Galilee said the latest employment figures showed how Blockade Australia protesters were damaging the economy.

A Blockade Australia protester was arrested by police for her demonstration at Port Waratah. Picture: Instagram

“The growth in coal mining jobs across NSW in recent years shows the ongoing strength of the industry, and the need to ensure mining communities are supported,” he said.

Protesters were putting themselves and others in danger, he said.

“Everyone has the right to protest, but it should be done safely.

“These protesters seem intent on putting themselves and others in danger,” Mr Galilee said. “Our focus has always been on keeping people safe, including mining workers, police and emergency services personnel, and the protesters themselves.

“While it might seem exciting to those undertaking these stunts, soft bodies and hard machinery don‘t mix, and there’s always a real risk of injury or worse when people illegally enter places they are not supposed to be,” he said.

The steelworks and coal loading facility in Port Kembla. Picture: Brook Mitchell/Getty Images

The latest data shows that the protesters are massively outnumbered by the people relying on the coal mining industry for employment.

In the Hunter, NSW’s largest coal producing region, there were 14,589 coal mining jobs which was the second highest tally in a decade.

The Gunnedah region recorded its highest ever number of mining jobs at 3253, while jobs in the west of the state had increased by 200 and remained the same in the south.

“These jobs help support regional communities, and are also making a very important economic contribution to the NSW economy,” Mr Galilee said.

The strong growth in coal mining jobs was also reflected in other mining sectors including metals.

“Metals mining jobs are also at near record levels with nearly 8,000 workers directly employed in the NSW metals mining sector based on the annual NSW Mining Industry Expenditure Impact Survey,” Mr Galilee said.