The NSW Government has passed new legislation to establish the Future Jobs Investment Authority, which it says will give certainty to workers and communities in coal-producing regions.
The Future Jobs and Investment Bill 2025 will boost support for the state’s four coal-producing regions – the Hunter, the Illawarra, the Central West and the North West.
This work is backed by $29.7 million of ongoing funding for the Authority and more than $170 million under the new Future Jobs and Investment Fund, with additional contributions each year.
It will place workers, their families and communities at the centre of planning for future economic change, said Minister for the Illawarra and the South Coast, Ryan Park.
“The Illawarra Shoalhaven is one of Australia’s great powerhouses. This region has driven the nation for generations and will continue to do so for generations to come,” said Mr Park.
“The Future Jobs and Investment Authority will place workers and communities at the heart of decision making, ensuring we continue to build a bright future for our region and the State.
“This is about supporting these key industries and their workers, and giving them and their communities the certainty they deserve now and into the future.”
Around 25,000 people in NSW work directly in the coal mining industry, including more than 1,500 at the Hunter Valley Operations project which last month received approval to extend operations into the 2040s under the NSW Government’s Coal Industry 2026-5 0 policy document.
The Authority will be a new capability within government that has the power to:
- attract investment to support new industries, skills development and job creation,
- facilitate post-mining land use for productive purposes,
- lead genuine community engagement through the establishment of four Local Divisions,
- report on mine closures to keep communities informed, and
- provide workforce support.
The Government says it will be set up to ensure that communities most affected by change have a direct voice in shaping their future, through the Local Divisions in each region.
The Local Divisions will include representatives of workers, industry, local government and the community. The Chair of each Local Division will sit on the Board of the Authority, alongside representatives from unions and industry.
The legislation also introduces new requirements for coal mine operators to give workers the time and certainty they need to access new employment opportunities, retraining or retirement. Requirements on operators include providing:
- notice of mine closure in specified timeframes and
- plans outlining how workers will be supported when mining operations cease.
“The Future Jobs and Investment Authority will help provide a clear pathway for former mining land to support new industries, investment and jobs for decades to come,” said Planning Minister, Paul Scully.
The Hunter and Central West Local Divisions will be the first to be established, with the Government to make announcements about appointments in due course.
“The Hunter has never been a region that waits for opportunity to arrive. We build it, mine it, grow it and power it, and this week, we have legislated to protect just that,” said Minister for the Hunter, Yasmin Catley.
“The Future Jobs and Investment Authority will give Hunter families a direct voice in shaping their own future and ensure the next generation has certainty and can continue to access high-quality jobs across the Hunter for generations to come.
“The people of the Hunter have highly-transferrable skills and capability that they have built over generations, and our region is enriched by the thousands of skilled workers who call the Hunter home.”
