This state election, one of the strongest advocates for mining communities I’ve ever met is running to represent regional Queenslanders in Brisbane. Anne Baker, the Labor candidate for Burdekin, is well known to many Queensland coal miners.
She has been Mayor of Queensland’s biggest resource region for 17 years and in that time was a great advocate for coal mining workers and families. Between 2012 and 2024, Anne fought to increase the return to the Isaac region, which centres around Moranbah. Under her leadership, returns from the mining industry to the region rose substantially and she secured over $400 million in contributions to local projects.
Anne is now running to represent the state seat of Burdekin, which covers mining towns like Collinsville, Moranbah, Dysart, Middlemount and Clermont and extends to Bowen on the coast. Anyone who lives in these communities knows they need a fighter in their corner to make sure all the wealth they generate doesn’t flow entirely to Brisbane and to mining company profits. As a long-time local government leader and union supporter,
Anne knows that sharing doesn’t come naturally to mining companies. Anne’s late husband Frank was a coal miner and staunch member of our Union. Anne stood by Frank and his workmates through multiple bitter disputes as workers fought for important rights and working conditions that have lifted standards in our industry over decades.
One of the important issues this election is the long-term future of progressive coal royalty tiers system which has delivered an extra $9.4 billion in revenue for Queenslanders since they were introduced two years ago. This extra revenue is delivering more economic and social infrastructure and essential services across our state, including in coal producing regions. It is funding a $1000 energy bill rebate for all Queenslanders. However, the LNP’s ambiguous stance threatens to undermine this progress and short-change mining communities.
Opposition Leader David Crisafulli has not committed to keeping the royalty structure in place beyond a first term of government. This still leaves the door open for the LNP to potentially scrap the progressive royalty system in a second term, which would dud Queenslanders in the event of future spikes in coal prices.
Mining delivers valuable economic benefits to regional Queensland. Progressive royalties maximise these benefits. This is why we supported the Queensland Government’s decision to reform the royalties system in 2022 to ensure that Queenslanders saw a more appropriate return from the record coal prices that our premium quality, world-class coal was attracting at the time.
This additional revenue has been instrumental in funding infrastructure projects and essential services that benefit mining communities. For example, increased coal royalties delivered $48.5 million for a new Moranbah Hospital, which is currently under construction and is on track to open at the end of this year.
More recently, Anne Baker announced a $157 million royalties funded election commitment for Peak Downs Highway and Dysart-Middlemount Road. This funding will be allocated to strengthening and widening both roads, as well as building overtaking lanes on Peak Downs. The poor state of the roads leading out to mining towns is a massive issue for workers and residents in coal communities. This announcement was a good start to fixing them.
The Liberal National Party’s support for the mining industry has often come at the cost of support for workers and communities – whether on tax or work rights.
While at the state level, the LNP has paved the way to overturn progressive royalties, their federal counterparts have promised to ‘review’ new “Same Job, Same Pay” laws for labour hire workers which are finally delivering wage justice in our industry.
Mining companies love to complain about any constraint on their profits, but the booming coal industry and increasing employment indicate that neither the current royalties regime nor fairer workplace laws are a deterrent to investment. And it’s only fair that a booming industry delivers a fair return to communities.
If you live in Burdekin, I encourage you to consider giving your vote to Anne Baker. I can personally attest to her energy, passion and commitment to winning that fair return for mining communities.
Mitch Hughes
President Mining and Energy Union Queensland District
