For media enquires, please contact:
Justin Page HJA Co-ordinator: [email protected]
Chris Minns meets workers at the state’s largest coal mining project
NSW Premier Chris Minns has visited Hunter Valley Operations after the Independent Planning Commission approved its extension to 2045. The approval requires a closure management plan within a year. The Hunter Jobs Alliance says it should be a wake-up call for just transition planning.
“The IPC has confirmed what HJA has been saying for years – you cannot wait until a coal mine is closing to start planning for its workers and community,” said HJA coordinator Justin Page.
Full article: https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/9363750/nsw-premier-chris-minns-backs-the-hunter-valley-operations-extension/
October 1st, 2026
‘It’s where I live’: HVO workers speak with pride about their mine and community
The Independent Planning Commission has approved the Hunter Valley Operations extension to 2045. The approval comes with conditions, including a closure management plan within a year. HJA says it should be a wake-up call for mining companies and governments.
“Transition planning has to start early, be properly funded and deliver real support. Mining companies cannot point to the threat of job losses and socioeconomic impacts on communities while failing to adequately plan for those very impacts.” said HJA coordinator Justin Page.
HJA is calling on Glencore and Yancoal to fund support for workers. It also wants the NSW Government to legislate those obligations. The federal government must close the gap in transition support for export coal workers.
August 13th, 2026
Historic $2.5bn deal secures NSW energy and 1,000 jobs
The Commonwealth and NSW governments have struck a $2.5 billion deal with Rio Tinto to keep Tomago Aluminium running beyond 2028. It protects 1,000 direct smelter jobs and thousands more across the region. Tomago Aluminium has committed to invest at least $1.1 billion back into the site. The deal also underpins close to 3GW of new renewable generation and firming capacity.
Hunter Jobs Alliance coordinator Justin Page said the agreement ends years of uncertainty for thousands of workers. “Public money should never be a blank cheque to a multinational company. But this isn’t a blank cheque,” he said. This is backing an industrial future for the Hunter, and it’s the standard HJA will keep pushing for.
August 3rd, 2026
‘Stop the political games’: call to pass bill to protect redundant Hunter miners
The Future Jobs and Investment Bill is still stalled in the NSW Parliament. The bill would create a Future Jobs and Investment Authority. It would coordinate long-term workforce transition and regional investment. It would also require mining companies to prepare workforce transition plans.
Recent news shows why this can’t wait. Hunter Valley Operations (HVO) had its mine exit strategy removed before its 18-month extension. Ashton coal has also announced an unexpected closure.
Hunter Jobs Alliance coordinator Justin Page said transition planning should not begin when a mine announces its closure. “By then, workers and communities are already on the back foot. Workforce planning, retraining and regional investment must be embedded in legislation years before jobs are at risk,” he said. Passing the Future Jobs and Investment Bill urgently is an important step towards putting those obligations in place.
July 23rd, 2026
No strategy to manage the social impacts of coal mine’s closure
Evidence presented at the Independent Planning Commission hearing into the proposed extension of Hunter Valley Operations (HVO) has revealed that a requirement for the mine to have a mine exit strategy to manage the social and economic impacts of closure was removed. When an 18-month extension of HVO was approved in April 2025, the mine exit strategy condition was quietly deleted. It appears that HVO and the NSW Planning Department worked together to remove this key condition just when it was needed most, less than two years before mining was due to cease.
With the Federal transition authority (NZEA) excluding export coal mines from support and the NSW transition bill (FJIA) still stalled in parliament, coal companies are still not legally required to plan for, or financially contribute to, managing the social and economic impacts of mine closures. Hunter Jobs Alliance has been warning for years that whilst governments are talking about transition, they have failed to put institutions and policies in place to protect coal workers and coal communities.
Full article: https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/9315670/a-key-condition-for-the-hunter-valley-operations-mine-has-been-removed/
July 15th, 2026
Supporters and opponents prepare to clash over proposed mine expansion
As the Independent Planning Commission considers the proposed Hunter Valley Operations mine extension, the Hunter Jobs Alliance says the proposal highlights a major gap in support for export coal workers. Organiser Sam Wilkins said the Net Zero Economy Authority’s Energy Industry Jobs Plan (EIJP) “still excludes export coal workers, like those at HVO”, despite 90 per cent of Hunter coal being exported. He said “If the government is serious about a fair transition, the EIJP has to step up and support these workers”.
Full article: https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/9310593/hunter-valley-operations-ipc-hearing-sparks-fierce-coal-debate/
June 24th, 2026
Broadmeadow funding welcome, but Hunter community looks for substance in budget
Hunter Jobs Alliance community organiser Sam Wilkins welcomed the NSW government’s commitment to supporting Tomago Aluminium, though the exact figure is still subject to negotiation with the Commonwealth. Wilkins pointed to Treasurer Daniel Mookhey’s comments that renewable energy investment is key to keeping the state’s economy moving, saying “Tomago is exactly the kind of opportunity that proves the point: using cheap renewable energy to anchor major industry, drive new investment, and generate economic activity for the state.”
May 16th, 2026
‘Feds need to step up’: NSW promises funding for Tomago Aluminium in next month’s budget
The NSW government is set to reveal its contribution to a joint funding package for Tomago Aluminium in next month’s state budget, with the deal estimated to cost between $300 million and $470 million, amid ongoing negotiations with the federal government over the funding split.
Hunter Jobs Alliance has criticised the NSW government for failing to properly engage in more than five months of talks, warning that continued inaction is destroying confidence across the Hunter Region. As HJA Coordinator Justin Page said: “Why has the NSW government still not properly come to the table after more than five months of uncertainty? The NSW government needs to stop standing on the sidelines and start fighting for Hunter jobs.”
Full article: https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/9247591/state-government-to-reveal-tomago-aluminium-funding-package-in-state-budget/