Two of the country's largest unions, the Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) and the Australian Manufacturers Workers' Union (AMWU), both fully accept and understand that massive changes are taking place in the thermal coal industry.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Both unions in their submission to the NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into Sustainability of energy supply and resources in NSW wrote about the need to develop a workable transition plan for their members to ensure they were able to secure well paid jobs in the future.
The shame is that too many politicians from both sides of the political divide don't hold similar opinions.
We only have to look at the drought and lack of water resources to see what a failure to develop good policy looks like. Utter disaster for farmers, rural and regional communities and ultimately Australia.
If a drought policy had been developed after the Millennium drought perhaps our rural communities would not be in the dire situation they are now - waiting with each passing day for some crumbs from the political table.
The same applies to our woeful water management - anyone would think most of Australia was a lush tropical paradise the way to treat such a valuable resource in an arid country.
Talking about dams now well that's just headline grabbing we should be using more technology with waste water and making everyone take a short sharp shower.
But back to thermal coal - a product that transformed the world and is still doing so in ways many now describe as dangerous.
Today in the latest announcement we can integrate solar panels into sheet metal for use on building roofs and walls - the technology is changing our world and workplace every day.
Rather that fight back lets embrace the changes and looks forward to the outcome - if our power can become totally renewable what a future it will be for all of us.
Start transition planning now thats the call from the unions and many others.
We have the German model to follow where 190,000 black coal workers left the industry and not one was made redundant.
What a success and one we could follow if we start now and plan well for our future. Come and join us Michael Johnsen, Joel Fitzgibbon - be the leaders we need at this time.
Louise Nichols
From cattle to coal. Once a specialist agriculture writer today its about community, in particular, the Upper Hunter. I have lived and worked in the region for more than 30 years. Land use issues and the future direction of our region. But you cannot take ag out of the picture - our food and how we grow it is the basis of all life. Covering the Hunter and Mid North Coast rural issues is now part of my role with ACM.
From cattle to coal. Once a specialist agriculture writer today its about community, in particular, the Upper Hunter. I have lived and worked in the region for more than 30 years. Land use issues and the future direction of our region. But you cannot take ag out of the picture - our food and how we grow it is the basis of all life. Covering the Hunter and Mid North Coast rural issues is now part of my role with ACM.
