Скачать или смотреть [Legislative Council] 2R - Mining Amendment (Climate Protection—No New Coal Mines) Bill 2017

30 March 2017
Legislative Council, NSW Parliament
2nd Reading Speech - Mining Amendment (Climate Protection—No New Coal Mines) Bill 2017

The Hon. ADAM SEARL E ( 12:06 ): I speak for the Labor Opposition on the Mining Amendment (Climate Protection—No New Coal Mines) Bill 2016. I do so as the Leader of the Opposition in this place and as the shadow Minister for Industry, Resources and Energy. Labor's position on this bill is very clear: we do not support the bill before the House. We think that this is too blunt an instrument and it will be highly destructive for the industry, the economy of New South Wales and indeed all of those who depend upon the industry for economic support. But that should not be confused with being an uncritical urger or booster of mining or coalmining generally.

The Labor Party, given its history rooted in coalmining communities and other working communities over more than a century, has historically been very supportive of the development of the resources industry, including coalmining. We remain supportive of coalminers and their communities. We are very conscious of the important economic activity that comes from coalmining in this State. For example, we know that New South Wales mines produced 260 million tonnes of raw coal and 196 million tonnes of saleable coal in 2013. We know that the mining industry was worth over $21 billion, including nearly $18 billion worth of coal. We know that around 85 per cent of the coal dug out of the ground in New South Wales is exported, and the rest is used to generate electricity. Even the Government's most recent Renewable Energy Action Plan, which was 18 months late, and I will come back to that, says that about 79 per cent of the electricity upon which we depend daily still comes from coal-fired power.

The 136 million tonnes of coal exported was worth about $15.2 billion. Coal accounted for about 31 per cent of all merchandise leaving New South Wales, making it the State's single most valuable export commodity. The minerals industry pays about $1.6 billion to the New South Wales Government. About $1.3 billion of that is paid in royalties, the overwhelming majority of which comes from the coal industry. Nearly $135 million has been paid in payroll tax and nearly $146 million in land tax. The mining industry also pays nearly $1.5 billion to the Commonwealth Government, and that is overwhelmingly paid by the coal industry.

In 2013, the value of employment and other value-added aspects of investment in the coal industry was nearly $10 billion. It contributes $1.4 billion to the Central West economy, nearly $1 billion to the Illawarra economy, $6.3 billion to the Hunter economy, and more than $300 million to the New England and north-west economies. The mining sector, and predominantly the coalmining sector, generates about 20 per cent of the economic activity and 10 per cent of the jobs in the Central West and 7 per cent of jobs in the Hunter region. The coal industry historically has been, and it remains, very significant in this State. It pays $1.3 billion in royalties, although the New South Wales Treasury can never get the royalty figure right—it always overestimates it. That money provides more than 11,000 teachers for our schools. More than 30,000 people work in this State's mining industry, but that figure fluctuates between 30,000 and 44,000. Of course, it has other impacts across supply chains; it impacts not only mining directly—

The Hon. Robert Brown: It has impacts across whole industries.

The Hon. ADAM SEARLE: I acknowledge that interjection. The Labor Party is extremely conscious of the economic importance of the industry. It is also conscious of the importance of employment to people; it gives them a sense of purpose and economic security, which enables them to raise their families and to go about their lives. However, the Labor Party is also aware of the reality of climate change. I disagree with the previous speaker. People on my side of politics understand that climate change is real and that it is being accelerated by human activity. We do not shy away from that. We also acknowledge that Australia's carbon emissions are led by coal-fired power. We know that fossil fuel, primarily coal, comprises up to 80 per cent of our emissions. We also know that more needs to be done because we have only one planet on which to live. It sustains all of us, and if we destroy it we have nowhere else to go....

FULL TRANSCRIPT at https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/Han...