Mining and manufacturing in the Hunter - a Greens perspective

Greens Hunter Regional Seminar

Thanks for the opportunity to speak at today's forum. And congratulations to the organisers. I believe today's gathering can make an important contribution to bringing forward industry policies that work for local communities and the environment.

There are industries in the Hunter that destroy jobs, rather than create jobs. Many industries are in transition and today we are keen to assess how we can work together to ensure that process is positive.

The Greens' policies are designed to deliver a win-win when it comes to work opportunities and environmental protection

I have been asked to speak today about the mining and the manufacturing industries in the Hunter in the context of Greens policies.

Industry in this region as with most of Australia is up against the dual problems of the ad hoc nature of government planning, and the lack of political will on behalf of both Coalition and Labor governments to ensure industry is planned to meet the needs of the majority of people and to minimise damage to the environment

you could speak here of two alternative approaches: market forces vs an industry policy. The former, lib & alp to lesser extent, hand over all control to market competition (which means the big boys i.e. big campaign donors dominate. Industry policy menas a democratic porocess of determining the future of our industry to meet needs of communities (national & local) & enviro.

The Hunter region has made a mighty contribution to Australia - it has driven the energy and manufacturing needs of this country. Hunter resources are just in the ground they are on the ground - its people, and many of those people have seen little of the wealth that has been generated in this region. This contribution has come at a cost for the people and environment of this region. The polluted water ways, contaminated soil and variable air quality has gone on for too long.

The Greens believe that the Hunter can continue to be a leader in energy and manufacturing systems without that burden of environmental damage.

For decades communities either did not understand about the damage of the polluting industries or it was accepted in the name of jobs. On this score the Greens have a strong commitment to provide jobs, but jobs that are ecological as well as economical sustainable, that are worthwhile and add to people's dignity and self esteem rather than treating them as a means to make a quick profit.

So a few comments about the Hunter. I realise most of you come from this region but it is worth reminding ourselves that the Hunter like much of Australia is now characterised by a two tier labour market. There is a core of well paid highly skilled relatively secure workers and a growing periphery of insecure, part time and casual workers. This later group is dominated by women. This inequality creates a pool of cheap labour only benefits employers. The Greens are committed to bringing opportunity to all in the workforce.

Unemployment is higher in the Hunter than in the rest of the country. There is often a mismatch of skills and employment opportunities. Women are still largely concentrated in the traditional occupations - that is, a greater proportion of women miss out on gaining a profession or a trade.

The Greens policy does not advocate the closing of existing mines but we are strongly opposed to the opening of any new coal mines. We certainly acknowledge the huge contribution miners, their community and their union have made to this region. In the 200 years that coal has been mined in Australia about 4,000 Australian coal miners have been killed on the job. Until recently no mining company had been held responsible for these deaths, many of them in the Hunter. That is a heavy burden for any community to carry. Mining in Australia is still the third most dangerous occupation after forestry and fishing. Renewables are far safer.

It was not far from here that Norman Brown, a young miner and unionist, was shot dead for protesting for ????. As an activist based party we acknowledge the contribution of the militant history of coal communities.

But we now know that coal is damaging our society and our environment. Once we only saw the damage that coal did to miners' lungs. The black lung disease that killed miners in their tens of thousands is now symptomatic of the grip global warming has on the world and we know the only solution is to wean ourselves off this means of delivering energy.

For the Greens one way to bring an end to the era of coal is to expose the operations of the coal companies. Profits are being ripped out of the Hunter, the local environment destroyed, jobs are becoming minimal, exploitation is on the rise and all the time we have the time bomb of greenhouse emissions building up.

So to take a look at the mining industry in recent times. In the late 1990s the coal companies screamed about being squeezed in a fiercely competitive international market. They rationalised and restructured their operations cutting thousands of jobs and demanding massive productivity increases from the remainder of the workforce. They slashed the number of jobs and to achieve increased production the reduced permanent workforce has been subjected to working excessive hours.

also effect of automation on jobs esp. in coal mining but also in manuf. Inevitable and probably not possible or sensible to resist but benefits not shared equitably - companies taking lion share & not handled well. Instead of throwing displaced workers on scrap heap should have had gvt policy of developing new industries

this also allows you to mention education: need for funding for pub ed to ensure workers can make transitions

Now the pendulum has swung back and the coal companies have never had it so good. Australian coal is reaping record prices across the board. The mining companies are awash with a windfall that just keeps jackpotting. For example, Xstrata has just achieved a 70% increase in coking coal prices with Japan and a 68% increase in steaming coal prices. And it is not just Xstrata. Newcastle steaming coal prices have broken through US$60 per tonne.

The biggest problem facing coal producers over the next year is finding where they are going to hide their super-profits. With oil prices now around US$40 per barrel, compared with under US$20 per barrel a few years ago, coal companies believe their future is rosy, as governments and companies turn to coal as a cheaper option.

The Greens plan to step up our work to phase out coal mining in this region. The local and global environment can no longer carry the burden of coal mining. The pollution of water ways, the cracking of river beds, the air pollution and the destruction of farming land can no long be tolerated.

We also need to recognise that mining is no longer a job creator, it is a job destroyer. Mining companies are able to make the super profits that I just detailed not only because of the changing fortunes in the international market place but because the mining industry is now highly automated, and for those workers still employed in the industry they are obliged to work long 12 hour shifts, and their conditions are being watered down.

Our plan for energy systems is a change over to clean green energy systems. Speakers in the morning session spelt out how this is now commercially; economically and socially and industrially viable for this region.

Manufacturing needs to be overhauled rather than replaced. The overhaul, although uneven and often inequitable, is somewhat advantaged in the Hunter. Because of the ad hoc nature of industry development in this country it is timely to examine the constraints in place and how we bring the clean, green and equitable badge to manufacturing.

The present political and economic structure in this country too often results in regions, such as the Hunter, being overlooked. There is no clear, properly resourced regional development policy coming from the federal government.

The experience of economic rationalism demonstrates that decisions on the future of industry should not be left solely to market forces, but we should work to draw upon the creativity and the initiative within our regions. This is the only way we can foster value adding investment as opposed to exporting jobs along with our hard won resources.

Some of the other constraints include the Australia US Free Trade Agreement, the Howard government's industrial relations agenda, and the reduction of funds for public education and training.

A few comments on this so called Free Trade Agreement. It was negotiated in secret and Australia has ended up with a very bad deal that will see us awash with imports, which will result in the loss of thousands of manufacturing jobs.

Lets remember all free trade means is that we loose our economic independence and our capacity to participate in the knowledge economy. We cant survive off being an attractive tourist destination or a quarry for mining companies.

Australia needs, and the Hunter certainly needs, a modern, viable and adaptable manufacturing industry. The problem we are up against is that both the federal and state government, both the Labor and Coalition parties, are uncritically committed to free trade.

But we will drown in imports once the zero tariffs side of the free trade agreement kicks in. The US estimate that $2 billion worth of business will flow to their businesses and that will be at the expense of Australian jobs.

Although free trade is damaging the future of manufacturing in the Hunter we are still witnessing positive development. There is growth in new high skill, high productivity industries. This has been accompanied by a shift from low cost, high volume mass production to knowledge-intensive, flexible specialisation which competes on designs, innovation and quality as well as price.

What we are seeing is the growth of more interdependent units of production which build technology and develop marketing networks as well as direct links with customers and suppliers to achieve global economies for small firms.

These new industry clusters are ideally sited to development regions like the hunter. They are found here but because of the lack of support and guidance from the government sectors of the community, particularly women and older men, are being left out as we go through this change over.

Instead of relying on competition policy, free trade agreements, privatisation and deregulation of the labour market to deliver the new generation of industry we should have governments that ensure co-operation between the Commonwealth, the States and local communities to rebuild manufacturing in the Hunter.

On top of these requirements we also need to achieve job security, protection of employee entitlements, strong regional focus, and commitment to involving all sectors of the workforce to underpin industries that ensure the win-wins that we know are possible in terms of jobs and the environment.

There are industries in the Hunter that destroy jobs, rather than create jobs. Many industries are in transition and today we are keen to assess how we can work together to ensure that process is positive.

The Greens' policies are designed to deliver a win-win when it comes to work opportunities and environmental protection

I have been asked to speak today about the mining and the manufacturing industries in the Hunter in the context of Greens policies.

Industry in this region as with most of Australia is up against the dual problems of the ad hoc nature of government planning, and the lack of political will on behalf of both Coalition and Labor governments to ensure industry is planned to meet the needs of the majority of people and to minimise damage to the environment

you could speak here of two alternative approaches: market forces vs an industry policy. The former, lib & alp to lesser extent, hand over all control to market competition (which means the big boys i.e. big campaign donors dominate. Industry policy menas a democratic porocess of determining the future of our industry to meet needs of communities (national & local) & enviro.

The Hunter region has made a mighty contribution to Australia - it has driven the energy and manufacturing needs of this country. Hunter resources are just in the ground they are on the ground - its people, and many of those people have seen little of the wealth that has been generated in this region. This contribution has come at a cost for the people and environment of this region. The polluted water ways, contaminated soil and variable air quality has gone on for too long.

The Greens believe that the Hunter can continue to be a leader in energy and manufacturing systems without that burden of environmental damage.

For decades communities either did not understand about the damage of the polluting industries or it was accepted in the name of jobs. On this score the Greens have a strong commitment to provide jobs, but jobs that are ecological as well as economical sustainable, that are worthwhile and add to people's dignity and self esteem rather than treating them as a means to make a quick profit.

So a few comments about the Hunter. I realise most of you come from this region but it is worth reminding ourselves that the Hunter like much of Australia is now characterised by a two tier labour market. There is a core of well paid highly skilled relatively secure workers and a growing periphery of insecure, part time and casual workers. This later group is dominated by women. This inequality creates a pool of cheap labour only benefits employers. The Greens are committed to bringing opportunity to all in the workforce.

Unemployment is higher in the Hunter than in the rest of the country. There is often a mismatch of skills and employment opportunities. Women are still largely concentrated in the traditional occupations - that is, a greater proportion of women miss out on gaining a profession or a trade.

The Greens policy does not advocate the closing of existing mines but we are strongly opposed to the opening of any new coal mines. We certainly acknowledge the huge contribution miners, their community and their union have made to this region. In the 200 years that coal has been mined in Australia about 4,000 Australian coal miners have been killed on the job. Until recently no mining company had been held responsible for these deaths, many of them in the Hunter. That is a heavy burden for any community to carry. Mining in Australia is still the third most dangerous occupation after forestry and fishing. Renewables are far safer.

It was not far from here that Norman Brown, a young miner and unionist, was shot dead for protesting for ????. As an activist based party we acknowledge the contribution of the militant history of coal communities.

But we now know that coal is damaging our society and our environment. Once we only saw the damage that coal did to miners' lungs. The black lung disease that killed miners in their tens of thousands is now symptomatic of the grip global warming has on the world and we know the only solution is to wean ourselves off this means of delivering energy.

For the Greens one way to bring an end to the era of coal is to expose the operations of the coal companies. Profits are being ripped out of the Hunter, the local environment destroyed, jobs are becoming minimal, exploitation is on the rise and all the time we have the time bomb of greenhouse emissions building up.

So to take a look at the mining industry in recent times. In the late 1990s the coal companies screamed about being squeezed in a fiercely competitive international market. They rationalised and restructured their operations cutting thousands of jobs and demanding massive productivity increases from the remainder of the workforce. They slashed the number of jobs and to achieve increased production the reduced permanent workforce has been subjected to working excessive hours.

also effect of automation on jobs esp. in coal mining but also in manuf. Inevitable and probably not possible or sensible to resist but benefits not shared equitably - companies taking lion share & not handled well. Instead of throwing displaced workers on scrap heap should have had gvt policy of developing new industries

this also allows you to mention education: need for funding for pub ed to ensure workers can make transitions

Now the pendulum has swung back and the coal companies have never had it so good. Australian coal is reaping record prices across the board. The mining companies are awash with a windfall that just keeps jackpotting. For example, Xstrata has just achieved a 70% increase in coking coal prices with Japan and a 68% increase in steaming coal prices. And it is not just Xstrata. Newcastle steaming coal prices have broken through US$60 per tonne.

The biggest problem facing coal producers over the next year is finding where they are going to hide their super-profits. With oil prices now around US$40 per barrel, compared with under US$20 per barrel a few years ago, coal companies believe their future is rosy, as governments and companies turn to coal as a cheaper option.

The Greens plan to step up our work to phase out coal mining in this region. The local and global environment can no longer carry the burden of coal mining. The pollution of water ways, the cracking of river beds, the air pollution and the destruction of farming land can no long be tolerated.

We also need to recognise that mining is no longer a job creator, it is a job destroyer. Mining companies are able to make the super profits that I just detailed not only because of the changing fortunes in the international market place but because the mining industry is now highly automated, and for those workers still employed in the industry they are obliged to work long 12 hour shifts, and their conditions are being watered down.

Our plan for energy systems is a change over to clean green energy systems. Speakers in the morning session spelt out how this is now commercially; economically and socially and industrially viable for this region.

Manufacturing needs to be overhauled rather than replaced. The overhaul, although uneven and often inequitable, is somewhat advantaged in the Hunter. Because of the ad hoc nature of industry development in this country it is timely to examine the constraints in place and how we bring the clean, green and equitable badge to manufacturing.

The present political and economic structure in this country too often results in regions, such as the Hunter, being overlooked. There is no clear, properly resourced regional development policy coming from the federal government.

The experience of economic rationalism demonstrates that decisions on the future of industry should not be left solely to market forces, but we should work to draw upon the creativity and the initiative within our regions. This is the only way we can foster value adding investment as opposed to exporting jobs along with our hard won resources.

Some of the other constraints include the Australia US Free Trade Agreement, the Howard government's industrial relations agenda, and the reduction of funds for public education and training.

A few comments on this so called Free Trade Agreement. It was negotiated in secret and Australia has ended up with a very bad deal that will see us awash with imports, which will result in the loss of thousands of manufacturing jobs.

Lets remember all free trade means is that we loose our economic independence and our capacity to participate in the knowledge economy. We cant survive off being an attractive tourist destination or a quarry for mining companies.

Australia needs, and the Hunter certainly needs, a modern, viable and adaptable manufacturing industry. The problem we are up against is that both the federal and state government, both the Labor and Coalition parties, are uncritically committed to free trade.

But we will drown in imports once the zero tariffs side of the free trade agreement kicks in. The US estimate that $2 billion worth of business will flow to their businesses and that will be at the expense of Australian jobs.

Although free trade is damaging the future of manufacturing in the Hunter we are still witnessing positive development. There is growth in new high skill, high productivity industries. This has been accompanied by a shift from low cost, high volume mass production to knowledge-intensive, flexible specialisation which competes on designs, innovation and quality as well as price.

What we are seeing is the growth of more interdependent units of production which build technology and develop marketing networks as well as direct links with customers and suppliers to achieve global economies for small firms.

These new industry clusters are ideally sited to development regions like the hunter. They are found here but because of the lack of support and guidance from the government sectors of the community, particularly women and older men, are being left out as we go through this change over.

Instead of relying on competition policy, free trade agreements, privatisation and deregulation of the labour market to deliver the new generation of industry we should have governments that ensure co-operation between the Commonwealth, the States and local communities to rebuild manufacturing in the Hunter.

On top of these requirements we also need to achieve job security, protection of employee entitlements, strong regional focus, and commitment to involving all sectors of the workforce to underpin industries that ensure the win-wins that we know are possible in terms of jobs and the environment.