The Future Jobs and Investment Bill is still stalled in the NSW Parliament. The bill would establish a Future Jobs and Investment Authority to coordinate long-term workforce transition and regional investment, and require mining companies to prepare workforce transition plans.
Last week’s news that Hunter Valley Operations (HVO) had its mine exit strategy removed before its 18-month extension, alongside the recent unexpected Ashton coal closure announcement, highlights why transition planning can’t wait. Workforce planning must be embedded in legislation years before mine closures. Hunter Jobs Alliance coordinator Justin Page said the HVO situation demonstrated why transition planning should not begin when a mine announced 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,”
Urgently passing the Future Jobs and Investment Bill is an important step towards putting those obligations in place