Business owners on board with land use planning committee's proposed way forward
In the mix is a skills audit of the state's mining workforce and a review of three key pieces of legislation.
Those measures will inform future needs regarding investment in reskilling, training, economic development and future site use, says Business Hunter CEO Bob Hawes.
"This is really important work to ensure our transition programs are aligned with both the existing skills base and future workforce needs," Mr Hawes said.
"We hope to see bipartisan support for the reforms and actions outlined in the report."
It will look at what wages and employment conditions are currently industry standard, opportunities for on-site training and skill development, and identify training and education shortages in mining regions.
The Beneficial and Productive Post mining Land Use report, tabled in parliament on July 16, has identified three key pieces of legislation for review -the Mining Act, Environmental Planning and Assessment Act and Protection of the Environment Operations Act - to ensure they facilitate opportunities for post-mining land use, Mr Hawes said.
The NSW Government has agreed to complete that review by June 2026.
"This provides a pathway forward to untangle some of the complex issues identified by the committee to ensure we can unlock opportunities for economically beneficial reuse of mining and related lands in future," Mr Hawes said.
The report follows a parliamentary inquiry into the best way to use hundreds of thousands of hectares of land left behind from coal mining closures.
The recommendations include continued evaluation of security deposits to determine if they will be sufficient for meeting rehabilitation requirements.
It suggests an audit and mapping of industrial sites, surplus and industrial lands for potential repurposing for housing, environmental, educational tourism, sport, infrastructure, advanced manufacturing and renewable energy purposes.
It has recommended that the leadership of regional resource and energy transition be elevated to a ministerial and senior departmental working group.
In adopting that recommendation, the state government has tasked the newly established Future Jobs and Investment Authority with leading many of the initiatives it has agreed to pursue.
Mr Hawes said the Future Jobs and Investment Authority was well-placed to lead postmining land use initiatives given its terms of reference and status as a statutory authority with capacity to coordinate across government agencies.
"The actions from this report will provide the new Future Jobs and Investment Authority with plenty of tasks and responsibilities," Mr Hawes said.
"Business Hunter and other stakeholders in our region will be keeping a watching brief to ensure the Authority continues to be resourced to get on with the job in timely fashion."
THE Hunter business community is calling for bipartisan support for reforms outlined in a post-mining land use report after the state government adopted all 13 recommendations.
In the mix is a skills audit of the state's mining workforce and a review of three key pieces of legislation.
Those measures will inform future needs regarding investment in reskilling, training, economic development and future site use, says Business Hunter CEO Bob Hawes.
"This is really important work to ensure our transition programs are aligned with both the existing skills base and future workforce needs," Mr Hawes said.
"We hope to see bipartisan support for the reforms and actions outlined in the report."
It will look at what wages and employment conditions are currently industry standard, opportunities for on-site training and skill development, and identify training and education shortages in mining regions.
The Beneficial and Productive Post mining Land Use report, tabled in parliament on July 16, has identified three key pieces of legislation for review -the Mining Act, Environmental Planning and Assessment Act and Protection of the Environment Operations Act - to ensure they facilitate opportunities for post-mining land use, Mr Hawes said.
The NSW Government has agreed to complete that review by June 2026.
"This provides a pathway forward to untangle some of the complex issues identified by the committee to ensure we can unlock opportunities for economically beneficial reuse of mining and related lands in future," Mr Hawes said.
The report follows a parliamentary inquiry into the best way to use hundreds of thousands of hectares of land left behind from coal mining closures.
The recommendations include continued evaluation of security deposits to determine if they will be sufficient for meeting rehabilitation requirements.
It suggests an audit and mapping of industrial sites, surplus and industrial lands for potential repurposing for housing, environmental, educational tourism, sport, infrastructure, advanced manufacturing and renewable energy purposes.
It has recommended that the leadership of regional resource and energy transition be elevated to a ministerial and senior departmental working group.
In adopting that recommendation, the state government has tasked the newly established Future Jobs and Investment Authority with leading many of the initiatives it has agreed to pursue.
Mr Hawes said the Future Jobs and Investment Authority was well-placed to lead postmining land use initiatives given its terms of reference and status as a statutory authority with capacity to coordinate across government agencies.
"The actions from this report will provide the new Future Jobs and Investment Authority with plenty of tasks and responsibilities," Mr Hawes said.
"Business Hunter and other stakeholders in our region will be keeping a watching brief to ensure the Authority continues to be resourced to get on with the job in timely fashion."
THE Hunter business community is calling for bipartisan support for reforms outlined in a post-mining land use report after the state government adopted all 13 recommendations.
In the mix is a skills audit of the state's mining workforce and a review of three key pieces of legislation.
Those measures will inform future needs regarding investment in reskilling, training, economic development and future site use, says Business Hunter CEO Bob Hawes.
"This is really important work to ensure our transition programs are aligned with both the existing skills base and future workforce needs," Mr Hawes said.
"We hope to see bipartisan support for the reforms and actions outlined in the report."
It will look at what wages and employment conditions are currently industry standard, opportunities for on-site training and skill development, and identify training and education shortages in mining regions.
The Beneficial and Productive Post mining Land Use report, tabled in parliament on July 16, has identified three key pieces of legislation for review -the Mining Act, Environmental Planning and Assessment Act and Protection of the Environment Operations Act - to ensure they facilitate opportunities for post-mining land use, Mr Hawes said.
The NSW Government has agreed to complete that review by June 2026.
"This provides a pathway forward to untangle some of the complex issues identified by the committee to ensure we can unlock opportunities for economically beneficial reuse of mining and related lands in future," Mr Hawes said.
The report follows a parliamentary inquiry into the best way to use hundreds of thousands of hectares of land left behind from coal mining closures.
The recommendations include continued evaluation of security deposits to determine if they will be sufficient for meeting rehabilitation requirements.
It suggests an audit and mapping of industrial sites, surplus and industrial lands for potential repurposing for housing, environmental, educational tourism, sport, infrastructure, advanced manufacturing and renewable energy purposes.
It has recommended that the leadership of regional resource and energy transition be elevated to a ministerial and senior departmental working group.
In adopting that recommendation, the state government has tasked the newly established Future Jobs and Investment Authority with leading many of the initiatives it has agreed to pursue.
Mr Hawes said the Future Jobs and Investment Authority was well-placed to lead postmining land use initiatives given its terms of reference and status as a statutory authority with capacity to coordinate across government agencies.
"The actions from this report will provide the new Future Jobs and Investment Authority with plenty of tasks and responsibilities," Mr Hawes said.
"Business Hunter and other stakeholders in our region will be keeping a watching brief to ensure the Authority continues to be resourced to get on with the job in timely fashion."
THE Hunter business community is calling for bipartisan support for reforms outlined in a post-mining land use report after the state government adopted all 13 recommendations.
In the mix is a skills audit of the state's mining workforce and a review of three key pieces of legislation.
Those measures will inform future needs regarding investment in reskilling, training, economic development and future site use, says Business Hunter CEO Bob Hawes.
"This is really important work to ensure our transition programs are aligned with both the existing skills base and future workforce needs," Mr Hawes said.
"We hope to see bipartisan support for the reforms and actions outlined in the report."
It will look at what wages and employment conditions are currently industry standard, opportunities for on-site training and skill development, and identify training and education shortages in mining regions.
The Beneficial and Productive Post mining Land Use report, tabled in parliament on July 16, has identified three key pieces of legislation for review -the Mining Act, Environmental Planning and Assessment Act and Protection of the Environment Operations Act - to ensure they facilitate opportunities for post-mining land use, Mr Hawes said.
The NSW Government has agreed to complete that review by June 2026.
"This provides a pathway forward to untangle some of the complex issues identified by the committee to ensure we can unlock opportunities for economically beneficial reuse of mining and related lands in future," Mr Hawes said.
The report follows a parliamentary inquiry into the best way to use hundreds of thousands of hectares of land left behind from coal mining closures.
The recommendations include continued evaluation of security deposits to determine if they will be sufficient for meeting rehabilitation requirements.
It suggests an audit and mapping of industrial sites, surplus and industrial lands for potential repurposing for housing, environmental, educational tourism, sport, infrastructure, advanced manufacturing and renewable energy purposes.
It has recommended that the leadership of regional resource and energy transition be elevated to a ministerial and senior departmental working group.
In adopting that recommendation, the state government has tasked the newly established Future Jobs and Investment Authority with leading many of the initiatives it has agreed to pursue.
Mr Hawes said the Future Jobs and Investment Authority was well-placed to lead postmining land use initiatives given its terms of reference and status as a statutory authority with capacity to coordinate across government agencies.
"The actions from this report will provide the new Future Jobs and Investment Authority with plenty of tasks and responsibilities," Mr Hawes said.
"Business Hunter and other stakeholders in our region will be keeping a watching brief to ensure the Authority continues to be resourced to get on with the job in timely fashion."
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The Advertiser
08-08-2025
- The Advertiser
Will we spend billions on a 'beneficial and productive post-mining land use?
If we are prepared to spend enough and protect enough, we may achieve what the title of the report suggests, a 'Beneficial and Productive Post Mining Land Use' in the Upper Hunter. The report, whose 13 recommendations the NSW Government has now fully endorsed, followed on from a parliamentary inquiry into beneficial and productive post-mining land use established in May 2024. The inquiry was designed to investigate the merits of multiple successive land uses and the benefits for local communities and the economy. From the inquiry, the final report released in May this year called for sufficient funding, resources, and innovation to be applied to the state's post-mining landscapes if regions like the Upper Hunter are to survive and prosper in a world without coal mining. Their recommendations covered everything from legislative changes to establishing an authority to oversee the work and the need to engage collaboratively with all the stakeholders. It was agreed by most of the participants in the inquiry that it was no longer enough to leave mine sites in a 'safe, stable and non-polluting state'. Instead, those sites must be seen as community assets that can be used post-mining, such as renewable energy and manufacturing hubs, agricultural and biodiversity lands, tourist destinations, or housing. Everyone agrees that action needs to be taken now, as 32 of the state's 39 coal mines are expected to close by 2040. Many communities in NSW, particularly the Upper Hunter, depend on the mining industry for employment and revenue, with more than 25,000 workers in production roles in the coal mining industry alone. The financial cost of a successful transition does not come cheaply. In Germany, for example, the closure of their coal industry based in the Ruhr Valley cost an estimated $E40 billion ($A70 billion) - a figure way beyond what our governments have so far committed to start our transition. To lead our transition, the NSW Government has committed $27.3 million over four years to fund the establishment of the Future Jobs and Investment Authority. This includes funding for the operation of the Authority and the Board. This initiative will be backed by the Future Jobs and Investment Fund, which is proposed to make available $100 million in funding, or $1 billion in funding across the state. The Future Jobs and Investment Authority will develop a framework for funding infrastructure and post-mining land use planning, skills mapping, feasibility assessments, and training programs. This will be done in concert with the Federal Government's Net Zero Economy Authority. Muswellbrook mayor Jeff Drayton supported the outcomes of the parliamentary inquiry and welcomed the NSW Government's response. "The huge amount of work required to be done by local, state and federal governments and industry shouldn't be underestimated," he said. "Muswellbrook can't just wait for our mines to close for new uses, industries, and jobs to be created in the region. It needs to happen now while the mines are still operating. That's why we are prioritising working with government and BHP on the Pilot Project, where we are identifying land where industry can set up now," mayor Drayton said. "This is not about letting mines off the hook, it is about creating a future for our community. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to provide industry, innovation, and manufacturing capability, which will power the nation and create prosperity for future generations. If we can't get it right in Muswellbrook, there's no chance we can get it right elsewhere." In the Ruhr Valley in 1980, there were 143,000 coal mining jobs, which fell to only 3,371 by 2018. So where did the workers go, and where were the jobs created? Older workers took generous redundancy packages, others were offered reskilling options and new jobs were created in the service industry. In the region, there was a significant increase in higher education facilities, a growth in tourism and massive public investments supporting economic diversification. If we are prepared to spend enough and protect enough, we may achieve what the title of the report suggests, a 'Beneficial and Productive Post Mining Land Use' in the Upper Hunter. The report, whose 13 recommendations the NSW Government has now fully endorsed, followed on from a parliamentary inquiry into beneficial and productive post-mining land use established in May 2024. The inquiry was designed to investigate the merits of multiple successive land uses and the benefits for local communities and the economy. From the inquiry, the final report released in May this year called for sufficient funding, resources, and innovation to be applied to the state's post-mining landscapes if regions like the Upper Hunter are to survive and prosper in a world without coal mining. Their recommendations covered everything from legislative changes to establishing an authority to oversee the work and the need to engage collaboratively with all the stakeholders. It was agreed by most of the participants in the inquiry that it was no longer enough to leave mine sites in a 'safe, stable and non-polluting state'. Instead, those sites must be seen as community assets that can be used post-mining, such as renewable energy and manufacturing hubs, agricultural and biodiversity lands, tourist destinations, or housing. Everyone agrees that action needs to be taken now, as 32 of the state's 39 coal mines are expected to close by 2040. Many communities in NSW, particularly the Upper Hunter, depend on the mining industry for employment and revenue, with more than 25,000 workers in production roles in the coal mining industry alone. The financial cost of a successful transition does not come cheaply. In Germany, for example, the closure of their coal industry based in the Ruhr Valley cost an estimated $E40 billion ($A70 billion) - a figure way beyond what our governments have so far committed to start our transition. To lead our transition, the NSW Government has committed $27.3 million over four years to fund the establishment of the Future Jobs and Investment Authority. This includes funding for the operation of the Authority and the Board. This initiative will be backed by the Future Jobs and Investment Fund, which is proposed to make available $100 million in funding, or $1 billion in funding across the state. The Future Jobs and Investment Authority will develop a framework for funding infrastructure and post-mining land use planning, skills mapping, feasibility assessments, and training programs. This will be done in concert with the Federal Government's Net Zero Economy Authority. Muswellbrook mayor Jeff Drayton supported the outcomes of the parliamentary inquiry and welcomed the NSW Government's response. "The huge amount of work required to be done by local, state and federal governments and industry shouldn't be underestimated," he said. "Muswellbrook can't just wait for our mines to close for new uses, industries, and jobs to be created in the region. It needs to happen now while the mines are still operating. That's why we are prioritising working with government and BHP on the Pilot Project, where we are identifying land where industry can set up now," mayor Drayton said. "This is not about letting mines off the hook, it is about creating a future for our community. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to provide industry, innovation, and manufacturing capability, which will power the nation and create prosperity for future generations. If we can't get it right in Muswellbrook, there's no chance we can get it right elsewhere." In the Ruhr Valley in 1980, there were 143,000 coal mining jobs, which fell to only 3,371 by 2018. So where did the workers go, and where were the jobs created? Older workers took generous redundancy packages, others were offered reskilling options and new jobs were created in the service industry. In the region, there was a significant increase in higher education facilities, a growth in tourism and massive public investments supporting economic diversification. If we are prepared to spend enough and protect enough, we may achieve what the title of the report suggests, a 'Beneficial and Productive Post Mining Land Use' in the Upper Hunter. The report, whose 13 recommendations the NSW Government has now fully endorsed, followed on from a parliamentary inquiry into beneficial and productive post-mining land use established in May 2024. The inquiry was designed to investigate the merits of multiple successive land uses and the benefits for local communities and the economy. From the inquiry, the final report released in May this year called for sufficient funding, resources, and innovation to be applied to the state's post-mining landscapes if regions like the Upper Hunter are to survive and prosper in a world without coal mining. Their recommendations covered everything from legislative changes to establishing an authority to oversee the work and the need to engage collaboratively with all the stakeholders. It was agreed by most of the participants in the inquiry that it was no longer enough to leave mine sites in a 'safe, stable and non-polluting state'. Instead, those sites must be seen as community assets that can be used post-mining, such as renewable energy and manufacturing hubs, agricultural and biodiversity lands, tourist destinations, or housing. Everyone agrees that action needs to be taken now, as 32 of the state's 39 coal mines are expected to close by 2040. Many communities in NSW, particularly the Upper Hunter, depend on the mining industry for employment and revenue, with more than 25,000 workers in production roles in the coal mining industry alone. The financial cost of a successful transition does not come cheaply. In Germany, for example, the closure of their coal industry based in the Ruhr Valley cost an estimated $E40 billion ($A70 billion) - a figure way beyond what our governments have so far committed to start our transition. To lead our transition, the NSW Government has committed $27.3 million over four years to fund the establishment of the Future Jobs and Investment Authority. This includes funding for the operation of the Authority and the Board. This initiative will be backed by the Future Jobs and Investment Fund, which is proposed to make available $100 million in funding, or $1 billion in funding across the state. The Future Jobs and Investment Authority will develop a framework for funding infrastructure and post-mining land use planning, skills mapping, feasibility assessments, and training programs. This will be done in concert with the Federal Government's Net Zero Economy Authority. Muswellbrook mayor Jeff Drayton supported the outcomes of the parliamentary inquiry and welcomed the NSW Government's response. "The huge amount of work required to be done by local, state and federal governments and industry shouldn't be underestimated," he said. "Muswellbrook can't just wait for our mines to close for new uses, industries, and jobs to be created in the region. It needs to happen now while the mines are still operating. That's why we are prioritising working with government and BHP on the Pilot Project, where we are identifying land where industry can set up now," mayor Drayton said. "This is not about letting mines off the hook, it is about creating a future for our community. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to provide industry, innovation, and manufacturing capability, which will power the nation and create prosperity for future generations. If we can't get it right in Muswellbrook, there's no chance we can get it right elsewhere." In the Ruhr Valley in 1980, there were 143,000 coal mining jobs, which fell to only 3,371 by 2018. So where did the workers go, and where were the jobs created? Older workers took generous redundancy packages, others were offered reskilling options and new jobs were created in the service industry. In the region, there was a significant increase in higher education facilities, a growth in tourism and massive public investments supporting economic diversification. If we are prepared to spend enough and protect enough, we may achieve what the title of the report suggests, a 'Beneficial and Productive Post Mining Land Use' in the Upper Hunter. The report, whose 13 recommendations the NSW Government has now fully endorsed, followed on from a parliamentary inquiry into beneficial and productive post-mining land use established in May 2024. The inquiry was designed to investigate the merits of multiple successive land uses and the benefits for local communities and the economy. From the inquiry, the final report released in May this year called for sufficient funding, resources, and innovation to be applied to the state's post-mining landscapes if regions like the Upper Hunter are to survive and prosper in a world without coal mining. Their recommendations covered everything from legislative changes to establishing an authority to oversee the work and the need to engage collaboratively with all the stakeholders. It was agreed by most of the participants in the inquiry that it was no longer enough to leave mine sites in a 'safe, stable and non-polluting state'. Instead, those sites must be seen as community assets that can be used post-mining, such as renewable energy and manufacturing hubs, agricultural and biodiversity lands, tourist destinations, or housing. Everyone agrees that action needs to be taken now, as 32 of the state's 39 coal mines are expected to close by 2040. Many communities in NSW, particularly the Upper Hunter, depend on the mining industry for employment and revenue, with more than 25,000 workers in production roles in the coal mining industry alone. The financial cost of a successful transition does not come cheaply. In Germany, for example, the closure of their coal industry based in the Ruhr Valley cost an estimated $E40 billion ($A70 billion) - a figure way beyond what our governments have so far committed to start our transition. To lead our transition, the NSW Government has committed $27.3 million over four years to fund the establishment of the Future Jobs and Investment Authority. This includes funding for the operation of the Authority and the Board. This initiative will be backed by the Future Jobs and Investment Fund, which is proposed to make available $100 million in funding, or $1 billion in funding across the state. The Future Jobs and Investment Authority will develop a framework for funding infrastructure and post-mining land use planning, skills mapping, feasibility assessments, and training programs. This will be done in concert with the Federal Government's Net Zero Economy Authority. Muswellbrook mayor Jeff Drayton supported the outcomes of the parliamentary inquiry and welcomed the NSW Government's response. "The huge amount of work required to be done by local, state and federal governments and industry shouldn't be underestimated," he said. "Muswellbrook can't just wait for our mines to close for new uses, industries, and jobs to be created in the region. It needs to happen now while the mines are still operating. That's why we are prioritising working with government and BHP on the Pilot Project, where we are identifying land where industry can set up now," mayor Drayton said. "This is not about letting mines off the hook, it is about creating a future for our community. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to provide industry, innovation, and manufacturing capability, which will power the nation and create prosperity for future generations. If we can't get it right in Muswellbrook, there's no chance we can get it right elsewhere." In the Ruhr Valley in 1980, there were 143,000 coal mining jobs, which fell to only 3,371 by 2018. So where did the workers go, and where were the jobs created? Older workers took generous redundancy packages, others were offered reskilling options and new jobs were created in the service industry. In the region, there was a significant increase in higher education facilities, a growth in tourism and massive public investments supporting economic diversification.
News.com.au
01-08-2025
- News.com.au
APRA's refusal to revise the 3 per cent stress test keeps Aussies locked in mortgage prison
ANALYSIS If you're in mortgage prison, you just had a parole hearing. And the result? Parole denied. That was the outcome when the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) announced recently that it would be keeping the 3 per cent mortgage repayment 'stress test' buffer in place. That's right, we're not being prudent enough! And we must be regulated. The buffer dictates that anyone applying for a home loan is 'stress tested' at a loan repayment rate 3 per cent higher than what they will actually be paying if successful in their loan application. So, if you want to borrow money at 6 per cent, the bank will check your income and financial habits to make sure you could make repayments at 9 per cent interest. You know, just in case there is a series of rate rises. They don't want you to default and lose that dream home. Only problem is, for a lot of people, the rule is stopping them getting a home at all. Let's be real here. Interest rates are coming down. They are not going to go up 3 per cent in the near term. The stress buffer started out at 2 per cent in 2014. It went to 2.5 per cent in 2019 on the back of a growth cycle that left many borrowers overexposed to the risk of a market correction. It was rightly increased to 3 per cent in October 2021 when the official cash rate was at 0.1 per cent and there were variable rate home loans with interest rates below 2 per cent. The only way was up at that time. Now is a completely different story. We have seen a cost of living crisis, stagnant wages, and rising house prices, yet someone who has somehow managed to scrape a deposit together needs to be able to show they can make repayments at a level not seen from variable interest rates since before the 2008 GFC. This is especially difficult for young people, as noted by my colleague Jonathan Chancellor in his Sydney Weekend column, who quoted Michael Sukkar, the Coalition's shadow housing minster during the 2025 election campaign, criticising APRA's 'one size fits all' rule as preventing nearly 40 per cent of first home buyers from getting a loan. That type of outcome is disastrous for future generations. But possibly the most absurd thing is that some people already with a mortgage who are struggling to make repayments might see a loan out there with a lower interest rate, but they won't be able to refinance to it because they don't pass the stress test. They might be paying 6 per cent currently, but if they wanted to pay 5.5 per cent, they'd have to prove they can pay 8.5 per cent. Just that 0.5 per cent difference would save you more than $300 a month on a $1 million mortgage and $114,000 over 30 years. Granted, there is a workaround for some lenders, who are able to use discretion to assess some borrowers at 1 or 2 per cent buffers, but for those who don't qualify? They are stuck in mortgage prison. And it's looking like APRA hasn't just left the keys in its 'other pants', but has thrown them away altogether. The 3 per cent buffer stayed in place even when the cash rate was at 4.35 per cent and there were borrowers being assessed at 10 per cent in order to get a 7 per cent home loan. Now that the cash rate and variable rates are both on the way down, adjusting the buffer is becoming less urgent, so expect more borrowers to miss out as APRA stays firm.
SBS Australia
31-07-2025
- SBS Australia
Could do better - NAPLAN results show many children aren't meeting expectations
The NAPLAN annual assessment, completed by 1.3 million students in March, shows that many children — particularly from disadvantaged backgrounds — are still falling through the cracks. The Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority described this year's results as broadly 'stable'. The federal government says it has made the biggest investment in public schools ... worth $16 billion over the next 10 years, with funding tied to real and practical reforms. LISTEN TO SBS Filipino 04:43 Filipino 📢 Where to Catch SBS Filipino
