Port bottleneck, sacked coal miners make convenient fodder to push new coal loader

"The queue of ships waiting off the NSW coast and today's sacking of 79 coal miners looks like an ugly form of industrial blackmail. Wealthy coal companies are putting pressure on Premier Morris Iemma to fast track approval of the proposed coal loader in Newcastle," said Greens MP Lee Rhiannon.

"Premier Iemma needs to stand up to the coal companies and not approve the proposed new coal loader if he is serious about tackling climate change.

"The queues of ships are growing because coal companies are overbooking ships, not because port infrastructure is failing.

"Coal companies are either deliberately overbooking to create a bottleneck and fertile ground to approve the coal loader or they are simply being greedy and overbooking ships in a cheeky attempt to squeeze an extra load of coal out of Newcastle Harbour.

"Austar mine announced today that it would sack 79 people from its 261 strong workforce due to the port bottleneck and limits on coal leaving Newcastle Harbour.

"Coal companies such as Austar should know the maths on how much coal can be moved out of Newcastle Harbour. Austar management either forgot their calculator the day the business plan was drawn up or they are playing politics with these workers.

"Sacking these workers smells suspiciously like the coal industry is playing politics with workers livelihoods so they can boost their profits by speeding up the rate of exports. There is no justification for sacking these workers.

"Newcastle is already the world’s largest coal port, shipping out about 80 million tonnes per year. A new coal loader would mean an extra 66 million tonnes every year are mined and shipped out of Newcastle.

"The government hid their cards before the election on whether the coal loader would be approved. Over 800 people made submissions urging against the new loader, largely on the basis of climate change impacts.

"The tide is turning against the coal industry and approving the coal loader would wed the Hunter to an outdated industry that will lose jobs in the coming decade.

"Premier Iemma must break his cosy ties with the coal industry and ensure that the Hunter does not miss out on thousands of new jobs in renewable energies manufacturing", said Ms Rhiannon.

Contact:  Greens MP Lee Rhiannon 9230 3551