This proposal would develop and finance a plan for the economic and employment transition of coal-dependent communities to ensure that they survive the decline of global trade in this sector. The proposal consists of three components:
Component 1 would establish the National Coal Communities Commission (independent from government) alongside five local Economic and Employment Commissions (see table below for the specified locations) that would develop and facilitate local plans for economic and employment transitions.
- Each local commission would consist of:
- Twelve local representatives (retained on part-time stipends) who would be drawn from state and local governments, industry, unions, non-government organisations and academia. Three members of each commission would be drawn from local and state governments and would not be eligible for part-time stipends.
- A local secretariat and executive team to support each commission. There would be 20 full-time secretariat and executive staff in total across the five commissions.
| Commission location |
| Hunter Valley Authority |
| LaTrobe Valley Authority |
| Gladstone Authority |
| Bowen Basin Authority |
| Collie and South West WA Authority |
Component 2 would create a Diversifying Coal Communities Fund (the Fund) that would provide grants to communities in coal-dependent regions to support their economic and employment transition and diversification.
- The Fund would be established outside the General Government Sector and would be credited with $2,800 million with the following funding profile.
| 2023-24 | 2024-25 | 2025-26 | 2026-27 | 2027-28 | 2028-29 | 2029-30 | 2030-31 | 2031-32 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $m | -406 | -348 | -523 | -459 | -313 | -206 | -78 | -113 | -354 | -2,800 |
- The National Coal Communities Commission would administer the Fund and would consider grant funding requests submitted by the commissions.
Component 3 would create a job-for-job-guarantee that the Greens have assumed will be required for up to two thirds of the workers in the coal mining and domestic coal sectors in a gradual fashion in light of Greens’ policy to phase out the coal industry. The guarantee would be implemented in the following manner:
- Non-fossil fuel employers would receive a wage subsidy equal to 50% of the average wage of a full-time worker in the mining sector if they employ someone who lost their job due to the above-mentioned closures, and pay the employee a wage rate at least equal to the amount the employee received in their prior job.
- If an employee is unable to find a job that attracts the above wage guarantee, then they may claim an amount equivalent to the wage subsidy directly for a period of 10 years, in addition to any other social security entitlement they may be entitled to.
- Workers aged over 55 that choose to retire may claim the wage subsidy directly for a period of up to 12 years, in addition to any other pension, superannuation or social security payments they would otherwise be entitled to.
Component 3 would operate for eligible thermal coal mine workers and domestic coal generation workers from 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2030, and for eligible metallurgical coal workers in the period from 1 July 2030 until 30 June 2040. Up to two thirds of workers within each specified time period would be eligible for the wage subsidy.
The policy proposal would have effect from 1 July 2022.