From the Hunter's mining communities to the floor of federal parliament, Labor's newly appointed resources spokesperson Joel Fitzgibbon has vowed to continue arguing the case for coal with "great energy and commitment".
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Despite a personal track record of support for the industry, the veteran Hunter MP suffered a stunning 14.21 per cent swing away from him to One Nation in last month's federal election.
It was largely on the back of a growing view in the coal mining heartland that Labor had become ambivalent towards the industry in the Hunter Valley and Queensland. Mr Fitzgibbon was keen to reassure voters on Wednesday that his party remained committed to the coal industry's future.
He added that any mining project that did not need taxpayer funding and met environmental tests would be backed by Labor.
"Most of our coal is exported and global demand for our relatively clean and efficient coal will remain strong for decades to come," he said. "On the domestic front, even if we manage to secure 50 per cent of our electricity needs from renewable sources by 2030, the other 50 per cent will be delivered by coal and gas generation."
Mr Fitzgibbon said he was confident several evolving wind and solar projects across the Hunter electorate could co-exist with the coal industry. "The Hunter has a great opportunity to create new jobs in the renewables sector while also providing base-load electricity from existing coal and new gas generators," he said.
"As Labor's Resources spokesman I'll be making it clear we support mining."
Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union national president Tony Maher endorsed Mr Fitzgibbon's role as Opposition energy and agriculture spokesman.
"Joel understands the importance of the resources industry to the economy and to the communities it operates in, for generating jobs and economic activity," he said.
Meanwhile Maitland based government staff responsible for managing NSW coal resources experience "dilemmas" doing their work in a coal mining region, a review for the Department of Planning has found.
Staff at the Maitland office "speak openly about the dilemmas of balancing mining interests and yet living within a community where this is a key feature of their lives", said the review which followed allegations by former senior staff of conflicts of interest involving key department employees.
The Integrity Adviser Review, which followed Newcastle Herald articles in 2018 about the sacking of the former staff, found the department had been "heavy handed" in some cases and lacked "a clear cut and consistent mode of treatment".
