Federal Labor MP for Hunter, Joel Fitzgibbon, is reportedly “devastated” at the potential loss of a further 400 jobs as Glencore puts planned expansions of its Blakefield North underground on indefinite hold. From ABC News:
[The announcement] means their jobs could be gone when the Blakefield South operation is due to wind up in 2017.
In a statement, Glencore said “the decision has been made as a result of continued low prices in the global thermal and coking coal markets”.
It went on to say the project will be put on hold “…until we see improvement in the economic climate”.
Mr Fitzgibbon said it is terrible timing for hundreds of local workers.
“This is the worst possible news for these families, virtually on the eve of Christmas,” he said.
“It’s devastating for them and devastating for me, because it comes on the back of earlier announcements.
“We are losing too many jobs in the coal mining industry”…
Mr Fitzgibbon is urging the Hunter community to show its support for the industry and send a positive message to investors.
“There could be more retrenchments to come elsewhere and I really do appeal to the community to get behind the coal mining industry,” he said.
Well Mr Fitzgibbon, prices are low because there is a massive supply glut globally amid softening demand. The last thing the coal industry needs is even more supply pushing down prices. IF you wish to prevent further losses in Hunter Valley coal mining jobs, we suggest you tell your federal and Queensland counterparts to stick the Adani Carmichael coalmine where the sun don’t shine. All it will do is supplant other more efficient Australian mines, including in the Hunter region, leading to further job losses for your constituents.
