Third Qld coal miner QCoal flags job cuts after BHP, Anglo axings
Queensland coal job losses are set to exceed 1000 as Premier David Crisafulli agrees to urgent talks with mining giants amid mounting pressure over the state’s royalty regime.
Premier David Crisafulli will meet with the coal industry amid fears more miners are planning to axe jobs.
It is understood QCoal is considering job cuts, following the 150 roles axed by Anglo American and 750 by BHP since Wednesday.
Premier David Crisafulli has now offered to meet with the mining sector next Friday to hear concerns, though he remains adamant his government won’t alter the coal super profit tax put in by Labor.
A growing number of federal LNP parliamentarians, including Opposition resources spokeswoman Susan McDonald, are also calling for their state colleagues to review the royalty regime.
Billionaire Chris Wallin’s QCoal is believed to be planning job cuts at its Bowen Basin mines and other companies are planning the same as operations are wound down.
Isaac Regional Council Mayor Kelly Vea Vea, whose communities are directly impacted by job cuts in the Bowen Basin, has called on the state government to intervene immediately and control the royalties dispute.
“The state government needs to take action as soon as possible to get to the table and have these issues resolved,” she said.
“We simply cannot wait and we cannot see a drawn out battle and dispute around something like coal royalties because for us this isn’t about royalties or coal prices.
“It’s about whether our next generation can see a future in our communities.”
Queensland Resources Council CEO Janette Hewson said the sector was optimistic it could find common ground with the government.
“We welcome any opportunity to work constructively with the government and applaud them for taking leadership to meet with the sector,” she said.
Townsville-based Senator McDonald warned the federal government’s 2035 emissions target made it even more timely to examine the conditions for coalmining in Queensland.
Rockhampton-based federal MP Michelle Landry said she had co-written a letter to the Premier, Treasurer and Resources Minister as part of her “relentless” lobbying for a review of the royalties program.
Acknowledging what Mr Janetzki had said about there being no changes to the regime, Ms Landry said she hoped they adjusted their approach.
“I think they will get a lot of pressure from their federal colleagues and the communities affected by this,” she said.
Nationals senator Matt Canavan said he had told Mr Crisafulli directly that the royalties program needed to be urgently reviewed.
“My fear is if there is no openness to change, a lot more jobs will be lost,” he said.
BHP Mitsubishi Alliance, which triggered the royalty debate this week after revealing 750 Queensland jobs would go, has launched a community campaign urging people to raise coal taxes with their member of parliament.
“We will continue speaking openly about the challenges we are facing as an industry – and we’re asking everyone to be part of this conversation,” BMA Asset president Adam Lancey wrote in a community letter.
“The government’s unsustainable coal royalty regime is now having real impacts on regional jobs and communities, and it’s costing Queensland.”
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Originally published as Third Qld coal miner QCoal flags job cuts after BHP, Anglo axings
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