2016-03-11
The Australian Greens are calling for a Senate inquiry on mining and resources rehabilitation to secure jobs in affected communities as reports yesterday and Monday indicated that coal giant Peabody Energy’s US parent company is headed for administration and big miners like Anglo American, Rio Tinto and BHP exit coal.
Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens Deputy Leader and spokesperson for mining, said:
“If Peabody goes bust, thousands of workers may suffer, and crucial jobs in rehabilitation may not materialise, as well as the toxic, polluting legacy that abandoned mines often leave.
“Last week I wrote to the Government, Labor and Senate cross-benchers proposing a Senate inquiry to investigate that failure, and the job opportunities from adequate rehabilitation.
“Next week I will be seeking their support in a vote in the Senate.
“State and Territory governments have failed time and time again to secure adequate rehabilitation bonds.
“In NSW where Peabody has three coal mines, the government holds only $150 million for all three, while the cost of filling in just one Hunter Valley mine pit has been estimated at $2 billion.
“In Queensland where Peabody has six coal mines, the Auditor General found that bonds are ‘often insufficient’
“The collapse of coal mining threatens to become the next James Hardie scandal with multinational companies walking away leaving workers, communities and our environment in the lurch.
“In the meantime, the Queensland and NSW governments should urgently release up-to-date data on the value of rehabilitation bonds held, and the Federal government should launch a nationwide audit of rehab bonds,” Senator Waters said.
The Greens’ plan for coal mine rehabilitation jobs is here: After Coal - Our Plan for Coal Workers
Senator Waters’ letter to the Government, Labor and Senate cross-bench is below.