Nature Conservation Council
MEDIA RELEASE
16 October 2026
Nature Conservation Council NSW (NCC), the state's leading environmental advocacy organisation, has heralded the passage of the Future Jobs and Investment Bill through the NSW upper house as a step forward in securing a viable future for coal communities statewide.
The milestone follows years of campaigning by community groups for a plan to support workers and guide the transition to renewables.
Future Jobs and Investment Authorities would support coal workers and communities transition towards new economic opportunities as global demand for coal continues to decline.
Quotes attributed to NCC Senior Climate Campaigner, Jacqui Mills:
"Finally, there's hope for coal communities to get the support they deserve in the transition to clean, diversified economies.
"Without it being law, we can't assume mining companies will adequately plan for the future of their workers, as was recently brought to light during the assessment of the Hunter Valley Operations Continuation Project.
"The clock is ticking as countries buying our coal shift their own economies towards a renewable-powered future.
"We need to seize the opportunity to bring in renewable energy to power the industries of the future in places like the Hunter, Central West and Lithgow regions.
"The Future Jobs and Investment Authorities will need to have environment and nature front of mind in developing plans for new uses for land no longer needed by the coal industry. This is currently a gap that the Labor government must address.
"There's massive potential for investment in low-emissions industry and habitat restoration to create corridors for wildlife, improve local amenity and improve resilience to droughts and floods made worse by climate change.
"The NSW Government needs to boost funding to meet the task at hand to at least $150 million per year."
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