Hunter mayors have condemned the nation's transition authority following the closure of a local coal mine, saying it would "not help a single miner" in the Hunter, because it excludes export mines from its plans.
On Tuesday, Yancoal told its Ashton coal mine workforce there would be immediate redundancies as the mine would be closed in stages, with a closure in January 2028.
Singleton mayor Sue Moore was asked if her community was strong enough to weather the loss of Ashton's almost 300 jobs.
"No, no, we're not strong enough. I hate to use the word transition, because there is nothing to transition into," Cr Moore said.
"We were always told the Net Zero Authority would pick up our needs, but they're not going to support export coal, so they're not going to help at all.
"Not a single miner in Singleton will be helped by the Net Zero Authority."
The Net Zero Economy Authority (NZEA) legally requires coal-fired power stations, and the coal mines supplying them, to give at least two years' notice before closing, while providing workers with paid time off for job hunting, funded retraining, and professional career and financial advice.
However, the policy - dubbed the Energy Industry Jobs Plan (EIJP) - excludes export coal mines. More than 90 per cent of the Hunter's coal is exported, meaning the vast majority of its workers are not protected by the scheme.
Muswellbrook mayor Jeff Drayton said when the term transition was thrown around, "we're talking about two industries; coal-fired power stations and coal mines".
He said the job losses from the region's handful of power stations would pale in comparison to the 12,000 direct and indirect job losses expected to hit the Hunter when two mines - Mount Arthur and Mangoola - close in 2030.
"The Net Zero Authority has no ability to help anyone, they appear to still be in a planning phase," Cr Drayton said.
"I can't consult anymore. I've consulted, spoken at round tables and committees. We've flogged that to death. We shouldn't be in the planning phase anymore, we know what's coming and it's here."
Western Sydney University economic geography professor Phillip O'Neill said there was a stark difference between the requirements of power stations and coal mines when closing, and the way Yancoal treated its workforce was "appalling".
"Power stations need to present a clear plan about transitioning their workforce. Yancoal can just herd its workers into a room on a cold winter's day and tell them the mine is closing," Prof O'Neill said.
"The mayors of the two most coal mine affected LGAs in Australia are complaining about the transition authority - that is surely enough evidence to show there's a serious deficit in assisting workers and regional towns in coping with inevitable loss of mining jobs."
Hunter-based Nationals senator Ross Cadell said Labor was giving Hunter miners a false sense of security by "allowing them to believe they're protected under the transition plan, when 90 per cent of them aren't".
"I disagree with closing coal mines, but if you're going to do it, you have to give people who have spent their lives with tools in their hands similar jobs to move into," Senator Cadell said.
"You shouldn't be picking and choosing which types of Aussie workers to help transition, it should be across the board."
Climate activist group Rising Tide said it was "outrageous" the EIJP excluded coal export workers, and therefore the majority of coal workers in the Hunter.
"It's past time for the government to stop playing politics with the lives and families of coal miners in the Hunter," Rising Tide spokesperson Alexa Stuart said.
"This is yet another example of our government allowing companies like Yancoal to exploit our regions, offshore their profits and leave workers and unions to clean up the mess."
Business Hunter chief executive Bob Hawes, who sits on the government's Work Transition Advisory Group, defended the NZEA and said a wide suite of transition programs were available to Hunter workers through other government departments.
"The NZEA is not failing at their job, its [EIJP] terms of reference are very specific," Mr Hawes said.
"It was created in response to initial concerns when writing on the wall for coal-fired power stations, long before people started saying things about the closure of export coal mines.
"It's cold comfort for those who have just lost their jobs or are directly affected, but it's incorrect to say workers are falling on bare earth."
Hunter MP Dan Repacholi was asked about the NZEA decision to exclude export coal mines from its transition obligations.
"The first priority has been making sure workers directly affected by power station closures have support in place. That work is underway, but it doesn't mean the conversation ends there," Mr Repacholi said.
"Export coal mine workers deserve certainty about what the future looks like for them and their families. The reality is the Hunter's coal industry will be around for decades yet, so we've got the time to get this right.
"My focus is pretty simple. I want to make sure Hunter workers get the support they deserve, no matter which part of the coal industry they work in."
The NZEA said it was aware of the decision to close Ashton coal mine in stages and was "working closely with the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations to support the impacted workforce".
"The Hunter is a priority region for the NZEA. We are working across government on worker support and on attracting new industry to support economic diversification in the region," a NZEA spokesperson said.
A Yancoal spokesperson said its Ashton workforce would be provided with redeployment opportunities where possible, along with career transition and wellbeing assistance.
