Research // New South Wales
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Economics
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- Employment & Unemployment
- Future of Work
- Gender at Work
- Gig Economy
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December 2016
Wilpinjong mine extention – PAC submission
The Australia Institute made a submission on the Wilpinjong Extension Project in March 2016. Our submission focussed on the economic assessment by Deloitte Access Economics in appendix M of the environmental impact statement (EIS).
November 2016
Airly Mine Extension – Submission
The Australia Institute made a submission on the Airly Mine Extension proposal in October 2014, highlighting our concerns with the economic assessment of the project conducted by Aigis Group. Our key points were: The economic assessment does not comply with relevant guidelines. Inappropriate consideration of wages as an economic benefit, overstating the value of the
Lithgow Invincible Coal Mine – Submission to Inquiry
The Australia Institute made a submission on the latest proposal for the Invincible coal mine, located near Lithgow NSW. As with several proposals before this, the economic assessment of the proposal is flawed, with costs understated and benefits overstated. The project is unlikely to represent a net benefit to the NSW community and should be
September 2016
United Wambo coal project: Submission
The United Wambo Open Cut Coal Mine Project is a proposal to expand and merge the existing Wambo and United coal mines in the Hunter Valley, NSW. This submission focuses mainly on the economic assessment included in the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) of the proposal, Appendix 19 Economic Assessment, written by Deloitte Access Economics (Deloitte).
June 2016
Wambo Coal Mine, Hunter Valley – Submission
The Wambo Mine – Modification 12 – Southern Longwall Modifications is a proposal to extend an existing coal mine in the Hunter Valley, New South Wales (NSW). The mine is owned by coal producer Peabody Energy. An environmental impact statement (EIS) has been submitted to the Department of Environment and Planning. This submission relates mainly
Economic assessment of the Hume Coal project
Development of an underground coal mine in NSW’s Southern Highlands is not economically viable and presents risks to the environment, existing industries and landowners.
April 2016
Submission to Wilpinjong Extension Project inquiry
The economic assessment of the Wilpinjong mine heavily overstates the value of the project. This is easily seen by comparing the estimate of the project’s net present value, AUD$735 million, with the total stockmarket value of the proponent, only $114 million. The key flaw in the economic assessment is unrealistic production costs. The assessment assumes
Polling: High support for fixed term federal elections
Polling conducted by ReachTEL in South Australia, Queensland and the electorate of New England found very high support for fixed terms for Australian political elections. Reported on by Michelle Grattan on The Conversation – here.
March 2016
Money doesn’t grow on trees
The Forestry Corporation of NSW (‘Forestry Corporation’ or ‘the Corporation’) is a state-owned corporation that manages more than two million hectares of commercial native and plantation forests in NSW for the primary purpose of timber production. Forestry Corporation has two operating segments; the Softwood Plantations Division, and the Hardwood Division (which is primarily engaged in
December 2015
Polling: Company Tax
ReachTEL conducted a survey of 738 residents across the federal electorate of Dickson, 747 residents across the federal electorate of New England, and 762 residents across the federal electorate of Page during the evining of 17th December 2015. Results in attachment below.
Rix’s Creek Extension Project: Submission
The economic assessment of the Rix’s Creek Extension Project, written by consultants KPMG, heavily overstates the benefits of the project while largely ignoring potential costs. Key flaws are: High coal prices. Unorthodox treatment of wages. Assumption that most external costs are fully offset or mitigated, with no consideration of risk around these impacts. Minimal detail
Revenue Polling – December 2015
There is little support in blue-ribbon Coalition electorates for using any extra revenue raised from a 15 per cent GST to cut company taxes, new polling shows. Reducing company tax rates was by far the least popular option when voters in four coalition-held electorates were asked to choose between four alternative ways to use extra revenue if the GST rate is lifted to
Draft guidelines for economic assessment of mining and coal seam gas proposals
Economic assessment has been at the centre of controversial planning decisions on mining and coal seam gas projects in New South Wales (NSW) for several years. The Australia Institute welcomes the efforts of the NSW Government and NSW Department of Planning and Environment to improve the standard of economic assessment.
Two Birds, One Little Black Rock
A new report by The Australia Institute outlines a solution to the twin problems of incentives for retirement of coal fired generation and funding rehabilitation liabilities.
November 2015
Bylong Coal Project – Submission on Environmental Impact
The Australia Institute has made a submission on the Environmental Impact Statement of the Bylong Coal Project, a proposed new thermal coal mine located south of the Hunter Valley in NSW. The economic assessment of the Bylong Coal Project is not suitable for decision making purposes. It lacks transparency, is based on flawed methodologies and
October 2015
Wentworth, North Sydney support for new coal mine moratorium: Poll
New polling shows strong support for a moratorium on new coal mines in two of the safest Liberal seats in the country. The ReachTEL poll of 694 residents in Wentworth and 679 in North Sydney was conducted in the wake of an open letter, signed by 61 prominent Australian’s, called for a global moratorium on
September 2015
Airly Coal Mine project: Submission to Planning Assessment Commission
The Airly Coal Mine project is a small, underground mine in the Capertee Valley, north of Lithgow, NSW. It is currently being assessed by the NSW Planning Assessment Commission (PAC). The economic assessment of the project is highly unreliable and its conclusion that the project would provide economic net benefit to the state has no
Subsidise this
In 2015 the federal government gave $4b in subsidies to the mining and fossil fuel industry, in the previous six years the Australian government has spent $17.6b in support for these industries. Over 75% of the people agree that fossil fuel subsidies should be redirected to essential services.
Mt Thorley-Warkworth Continuation Project
The Planning Assessment Commission for the Mt Thorley-Warkworth Continuation Project (Warkworth Project) has requested further submissions relating to a proposal to change the State Environmental Planning Policy (mining, petroleum production and extractive industries) (Mining SEPP). The current Mining SEPP requires consent authorities to give the “significance” of a resource the greatest weight in their assessment
Springvale mine extension project : Submission
The Australia Institute made a submission to the September 2015 Planning Assessment Commission hearing on the Springvale coal mine extension proposal. Key points: Economic assessment of the project fails to comply with NSW government guidelines and widely-accepted professional standards. No indication is provided as to the financial viability of the mine, making all claimed economic
July 2015
Terminal 4 Planning Assessment Commission determination meeting
The Australia Institute made a submission to the Planning Assessment Commission for Newcastle’s Terminal 4 coal project. We oppose the Terminal 4 project. For the project’s capacity to be utilised an increase in the rate of coal extraction in NSW is required beyond the continuation and replacement of existing mines. Such increases are unlikely to
Submission on NSW Integrated Mining Policy
The Australia Institute made a submission to the NSW Department of Planning and Environment’s Integrated Mining Policy during its exhibition period. A problem with the NSW planning system relating to mine assessment in recent years has been economic assessment. There are two areas in need of reform: The quality of economic assessment and enforcement of
Submission: Report on proposed Watermark Coal Project
The Australia Institute made written and in-person submissions to the Planning Assessment Commission on Shenhua’s Watermark coal project in June 2014. The economic and agricultural assessment in the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Watermark project is flawed. It is based on biased modelling techniques and ignores the risks the project presents to the region’s