Tens of thousands of export coal workers could miss out on gold-standard federal support to retrain for new careers as demand for the fuel dwindles.
Unions, a business group and local governments representing coal communities have all voiced support for the inclusion of export mine workers in the Commonwealth's flagship workforce transition program.
The Energy Industry Jobs Plan was set up in 2024 to support employees of closing coal power stations and affiliated mines with upskilling, financial planning and other services to support their career transition.
Several submissions to the Net Zero Economy Authority's review of the scheme argue it should be opened to more workers impacted by global decarbonisation, including export miners and employees of other emission-intensive sectors.
Jeff Drayton, mayor of the coal-dominant Muswellbrook Shire municipality, said the mining sector was "just as much on the front line of the transition as their colleagues in coal-fired stations".
He described a "two-tier system", with power generation workers afforded coverage by the federal program while mining workers were only sometimes covered by "inferior" Regional Workforce Transition Plans.
The latter did not mandate the involvement of employers in "extensive" transition assistance, the mayor wrote in his submission.
"If this two-tier system of benefits and assistance for workers is not addressed, the anomaly will actually add to distress and anxiety in our community, not alleviate it."
While the region's Bayswater station closure threatens 1000 jobs, the looming shutdown of the Mt Arthur and Mangoola mines could displace more than 12,000 workers.
Unions were also in favour of an expanded scope, with the Mining and Energy Union acknowledging the coal export industry's "structural decline".
"Whether due to reduced coal demand stemming from the net zero goals of key export customers, difficulties obtaining environmental and planning approvals for extensions, or shareholder pressure," the union's submission said.
The federal government's own modelling recognises demand for the fuel is weakening, with Treasury figures suggesting the value of coal and gas exports could fall by 50 per cent by 2030.
Hunter Jobs Alliance coordinator Justin Page said there was growing support in the region for the federal transition scheme to include export miners given 90 per cent of coal from the region is shipped overseas.
His organisation, which represents unions and environmental groups, was of the view the export industry was in decline, with some mine closures already slated for the end of the decade.
But the mining industry believes coal exports will continue until at least mid-century.
Business Hunter, representing businesses in the region, also recognised the merits of applying a similar framework offered to the power station workers to the broader mining industry.
