Muswellbrook Shire Council has taken aim at the federal government over its exclusion from crucial post-mining strategies.
The local authority is now calling for an “immediate halt” to any activities regarding the Hunter Workforce Transition Advisory Group and the Regional Workforce Transition Plan and Transition Fund until appropriate governance has been developed and agreed to by impacted LGAs.
It follows consistent and repeated requests from the Hunter Joint Organisation (HJO) – which comprises Cessnock City, Dungog Shire, Lake Macquarie City, Maitland City, Midcoast, Muswellbrook Shire, City of Newcastle, Port Stephens, Singleton and Upper Hunter Shire councils – regarding the lack of genuine engagement with the region.
The HJO formally wrote to Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Amanda Rishworth on 5 January, outlining serious concerns about the consultation framework for the Regional Workforce Transition Plan and Transition Fund.
But, it’s understood the first meeting with impacted councils did not occur until 29 May… well after key decisions had been made.
“Council isn’t a stakeholder in this transition,” Muswellbrook Shire mayor Jeff Drayton said.
“We’re leading it on behalf of our residents.
“However, this seems to be at odds with how the Commonwealth is dealing with the significant impact these changes will have on our community.
“The lack of engagement with us is a disgrace.
“Our workforce critically needs support.
“The federal government has access to the resources and funds that could make a real difference for our community.
“But, they can’t even tell us what those projects are.
“We have written to Minister for Industry and Innovation Tim Ayers and Ms Rishworth with specific and significant concerns regarding the operation and composition of the Hunter Workforce Transition Advisory Group… as well as the disrespect councils have been shown through this process.”
Cr Drayton said the closure of BHP Mt Arthur in 2030 alone would result in the direct loss of approximately 2,400 jobs.
“The mines have plans in place and are responsible for supporting their workforce as they move towards cessation,” he explained.
“It is the supply chain businesses and their workers who’ll be most impacted by this change.
“And, they are the ones left unsupported through this process.
“Many workers have spent their entire careers in mining, so the socioeconomic consequences of the shift will be profound and long-lasting.
“Muswellbrook Shire’s at the forefront of these changes.
“Yet, at nearly every opportunity, council’s attempt to engage constructively with federal government have been stonewalled and ignored.”
Muswellbrook Shire’s primary concerns:
- The deliberate exclusion of local government from the design and implementation of the Regional Workforce Transition Plan and Transition Fund
- The composition, role and authority of the Hunter Workforce Transition Advisory Group
- The lack of transparency and governance surrounding funding allocation and project delivery
- The absence of a jointly-agreed governance model to guide engagement and decision-making
“We’re also troubled, despite assurances of genuine co-design, that the composition of the Hunter Workforce Transition Advisory Group deliberately excluded directly-impacted councils,” Cr Drayton said.
“This raises serious questions about whether the needs of our communities are being properly represented.”
For more news stories:
- Police launch public appeal following suspicious fires in Muswellbrook
- IPC to determine Hunter Valley Operations mine proposal
- NSW budget must back Hunter jobs, housing and post-coal future
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