Coal is vital to Australia’s prosperity, says the new head of the resource’s industry body

Coal is vital to Australia’s and its role should be celebrated, the head of a new industry body has declared.

Coal is vital to Australia staying economically prosperous and a growing number of voters share that view, says the newly appointed head of Coal Australia – the first representative group singularly focused on the fuel source in years.

Although still the dominant fuel source for electricity generation, coal’s use is waning and the Australian Energy Market Operator has forecast all coal power stations will be decommissioned by 2037.

That forecast has fostered a view that coal is a sunset industry. But Coal Australia’s Stuart Bocking said the industry was vital and would continue to be so for many years.

“There is no economically prosperous nation in the world that is in energy deficit; that is a fact. If we are to maintain a competitive edge we have to understand how important coal is,” Mr Bocking told The Australian.

The comments underscore that the future of coal shapes a critical election issue. The federal government must return to the polls by May 2025 and some polls indicate the Coalition is rapidly gaining ground.

Labor will need to win over voters of its commitment to the fuel source in regions such as the Hunter Valley in NSW where coal is a dominant employer.

Coal Australia’s 20,000 members in some marginal seats could be important, and the Queensland state election result has emboldened the industry about its potential role as king maker.

The Livberal National Party in October returned to government in Queensland, a state where the resources sector is prized. To avoid the prospect of a minority government, federal Labor will need to turn the tide in Queensland where its stance on resources will be key.

Mr Bocking, a former chief of staff to NSW deputy premier Paul Toole, hinted of the industry’s dissatisfaction with Labor.

“Clearly they are trying to walk both sides of the street, we have seen that,” he said.

Labor insists it values and supports coal communities but its steadfast commitment to renewables is seen as accelerating the demise of the commodity that once fueled production of nearly all of Australia’s electricity.

The Coalition has said it sees a longer future for coal power in Australia as it bides sufficient time to build seven nuclear power stations at the site of retiring plants.

It is, however, not clear that Australia’s ageing coal power stations will be able to run until late into the 2030s as many approach the end of their technical lifespan.