Mining’s real contribution
Politicians often claim that mining supports local communities such as Gloucester through job creation and attracting investment.
However, Gloucester’s experience has been one of sluggish growth, environmental degradation and job losses in agriculture – the town’s biggest industry.
Mining companies, including Yancoal and AGL, may tell communities that their business is the key to success, but in reality coal mining operations mostly offer a small number of short-term jobs at the expense of longer-term, more sustainable industries.
Related documents
Between the Lines Newsletter
The biggest stories and the best analysis from the team at the Australia Institute, delivered to your inbox every fortnight.
You might also like
Why a fossil fuel-free COP could put Australia’s bid over the edge
When the medical world hosts a conference on quitting smoking, they don’t invite Phillip Morris, or British American Tobacco along to help “be part of the solution”.
Burning homes and rising premiums: why fossil fuel companies must pay the bill
Another summer, another round of devastation: homes lost, communities evacuated, lives upended.
Australian fossil fuel subsidies growing faster than NDIS, hitting $16.3 billion in 2025-26
Australian state and federal governments provided $16.3 billion in subsidies to fossil fuel producers and major users in 2025-26, according to new research from The Australia Institute.


