State Labor Doesn't Support Ban on New Upper Hunter Coal Mines Despite Poll Showing Voter Support

BY ISABEL EVERETT

State Labor says it doesn't support a ban on new coal mines in the Upper Hunter, despite a recent poll showing most voters in the area are supportive of the idea. 

An Australia Institute poll of 668 people in the electorate found 57.4 per cent support a moratorium on new coal mine approvals and a remediation plan for existing mines in the Hunter Valley, against 35.1 percent opposing the measures.

Research from the institute also recently found proposals for new coal projects in the Upper Hunter have a combined output of 98 million tonnes of coal per year, equivalent to ten new Adani-sized mines. 

Opposition Leader Jodi McKay said the party doesn't support the ban, while announcing the party's candidate for the up-coming Upper Hunter by-election on Tuesday, former coal miner Jeff Drayton.

"We do not support a moratorium on coal mines, let's get that out of the way," she said. 

Mr Drayton dismissed the poll.

"I must be talking to a different 600 people," he said. 

The call for a moratorium was made by former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, which resulted in him being dumped as the NSW government's new climate economy chief.

Ms McKay said despite not supporting the idea, the party remained committed to tackling climate change and environmental issues.

"We need to be pursuing renewable energy, we all know that, but we also need to make sure that we're protecting jobs in the coal industry."

"What frustrates me... is that if you're in this corner, supposedly you can't accept that corner," she said.

Labor's By-election Candidate Vows to Protect Miners but Accepts Coal Industry Will Decline

BY ISABEL EVERETT 

Labor has announced former coal miner and union official, Jeff Drayton as it's candidate for the Upper Hunter by-election.

A Muswellbrook resident, Mr Drayton worked at the Mount Arthur Coal mine for 20 years before working for Energy Australia and then as District Vice President of the Mining Union.

He says he's understands the issues facing the Upper Hunter electorate, better than any of the other candidates. 

"I believe I can fix them, I've spent my whole 51 years in the electorate."

"Obviously mining forms a big part of the electorate...I don't just deal with one coal miner, or my next door neighbor, I'm dealing with thousands of mine workers yearly." 

"Surely it's the case that a coal miner can have some security and confidence that their job will still be there in a few years time." 

Mr Drayton acknowledged the coal industry will decline over time, and says the Government must act now to determine what industry workers will transition to. 

"We appear to be talking about moving away from the coal jobs when we haven't worked out what jobs are there, or what we're going to move to."

"We've got to work hard to have jobs for people to move to." 

He said he's confident the Labor Party will support mine workers going forward. 

"Every time I open the newspaper, or every time I turn the TV on I see someone having a go a coal miners, and that has to stop, and I'm going to fight bloody hard to make sure it does." 

He also said he'd like to see more of the money generated from local coal mining, equine and agricultural industries funneled back into the electorate. 

"A lot of money goes into the State's coffers through those industries, disappointingly though it appears that we don't see much coming back. I plan to change that." 

Mr Drayton conceded the election would be difficult for Labor to win, with the Nationals Party holding the Upper Hunter seat for more than 90 years. 

Labor secured 28 per cent of the primary vote in the Upper Hunter at the 2019 state election.

Image: Port Stephens MP, Kate Washington