New Hope : (02/09/19) Palaszczuk Government inaction causes 150 job losses Read More >

MEDIA STATEMENT

This morning New Hope has been given no choice but to make 150 workers redundant at the New Acland Mine, with crews informed as they started work at 6am.

New Hope is yet to receive any indication from the State Government regarding the future of the mine and its application for:

• Stage 3 Mining Leases;
• An Associated Water Licence;
• Approval to continue using the Jondaryan Rail Facility.

The Company advised the Government in June that these approvals were needed by the first of September in order to provide continuity of operations from Stage 2 to Stage 3 and prevent job losses. The Government's silence on these approvals gives us no choice but to initiate the redundancy process.

The Company is committed to securing approval for this Project and in doing so being able to provide ongoing employment at the New Acland Coal Mine.

The sooner the approvals for Acland Stage 3 are given the sooner new jobs can be created and fewer jobs lost through the transition from Stage 2 to Stage 3 at Acland.

New Acland Coal General Manager, Dave O'Dwyer said.

'We genuinely thought the Palaszczuk Government cared about regional jobs and regional Queenslanders.'

'This Premier stood up and stated to the party faithful last weekend of the importance of regional jobs and the coal sector.'

'The Palaszczuk Government is responsible for 150 workers and their families losing their livelihoods leading into Christmas.'

The Company remains open to working with the Queensland Government to save jobs and secure the future prosperity of Oakey and the surrounding region.

12 years to wait for approvals is long enough!

(ends)

For more information, please contact:

Peter Turnbull

New Hope External Affairs

M: [phone] E: [e-mail]

David McHugh

Clout PR & Content

M: [phone] E: [e-mail]