A report released by the Australian Coal Association on the impact of the proposed carbon price on the black coal mining sector in Queensland and New South Wales has warned that it would cost around 4,700 mining jobs in the two states, and up to 14,100  jobs in the wider Australian economy.

 

The report claims that emissions pricing would further eliminate 25-37 per cent of potential new jobs within mines rendered unviable by emissions pricing. These do not include job losses from changes to production rates in response to emissions pricing imposts.

 

The total loss of coal sales over the period from implementation of emissions pricing to the end of 2020/21 is estimated to exceed $22 billion.

 

Executive Director of the ACA, Ralph Hillman said the research shows that coal mines could close  if the Government continues with its current plans for a carbon tax.


Mr Hillman said “The ACA supports putting a price on carbon but not one that causes Australian mines to close and shift production to other countries with no reduction in global greenhouse gas emissions.


The report, prepared by ACIL - Tasman for the ACA, modelled the impact of a carbon tax based on a survey of 82 coal mines, representing over 85 per cent of black coal production.


“The cost of the carbon tax to Australian coal mines is expected to be around $18 billion within the first nine years (2021) of the tax. This is a cost that none of our competitors will face and reflects the government’s failure to seriously address the competitiveness of Australian trade exposed industries, including coal," Mr Hillman said.

 

The full report is available here