The year that coal fought back

Nick Jorss, Chairman, Coal Australia

The new movement has demonstrated solid grassroots support for the industry across communities … by highlighting the positive contribution of coal to our communities, we have begun shifting the narrative.

Coal was the driving force behind the Industrial Revolution, transforming economies and lifting billions of people out of poverty.

Today, it remains a vital source of affordable and reliable energy, supplying vital industries like steel, and providing livelihoods for hundreds of thousands of Australians. Coal is Australia’s biggest export after iron ore, adding tens of billions annually to our economy.

In recent years, however, coal has been unfairly vilified, with politicians exploiting the issue to sow division among Australians.

That’s why Australia’s coal industry is fighting back – and it’s working.

This year, we launched Coal Australia to re-establish a sense of excitement and pride in the sector.

Coal Australia’s membership includes a broad spectrum of industry players, including those directly and indirectly involved with the mining industry, from metallurgical and thermal producers to suppliers, customers, and local businesses.

The new movement has demonstrated solid grassroots support for the industry across communities. Since its launch in mid-2024, more than 15,000 Australians have joined our 'Friends of Coal' network, and thousands more join us every month.

We’ve produced and promptly sold out of Coal Australia merchandise, which people are proudly wearing around their towns and cities. By highlighting the positive contribution of coal to our communities, we have begun shifting the narrative.

It couldn’t come at a more opportune time. Amid a global cost of living crisis and a growing awareness of the limitations of renewable energy, demand for affordable power has risen along with a realisation of the importance of coal.

Australia’s, and specifically Queensland’s, coal mining communities and the companies and suppliers that support them have long felt that the national conversation about coal was out of step with reality.

There is a common myth that Australians oppose coal. But we found that when actually asked, most understand its vital role.

Polling commissioned by Coal Australia shows Queenslanders’ strong support for coal. In regional electorates, from Mackay (+92%) to Rockhampton (+90%) and Gladstone (+90%), there is solid support for the view that coal mining is important to their communities. In Brisbane electorates, like Springwood (+71%), Capalaba (+73%) and Ipswich (+83%), there is broad understanding that coal is important to the Queensland economy.

A strong majority across all Queensland communities polled agreed that attracting investment to grow the coal mining industry is important and that the government should not make coal mining harder. In 2024, Australians are seeing the role coal plays in maintaining our prosperity, jobs, and quality of life. It is also clear that the former Queensland government's attempt to divide the electorate over coal royalties failed. Some 68% of regional voters and 61% of Brisbane metropolitan voters supported a more competitive coal royalty regime to allow mining companies to continue investing in Queensland. When people understand the economic role that coal plays, they back the industry.

The recent Queensland state election demonstrates the danger of a government that takes an unbalanced view of the role of coal.

Queenslanders rejected the divisive tactics and swung hard against the former government. In coal communities, there was an average swing against Labor of 10.9%. Resources Minister Scott Stewart lost his once-safe seat of Townsville, with a swing of more than 9% against him. Outer suburban Brisbane seats, feeling cost of living pressures, swung as well, embracing the industry that supports our national prosperity and supplies households with cheap, effective power.

Next year’s Federal outlook remains promising as we intensify our advocacy for the regional communities that depend on coal mining as a cornerstone of their local economies and livelihoods.

To join the movement, visit CoalAustralia.com. 