NSW mining industry taking action on COVID-19 to protect workforce and communities

The NSW mining industry is taking strong action to ensure a safe working environment during the COVID-19 pandemic, supported by a new public information campaign commencing from today.

“Our priority is to ensure the health and safety of our mining workforce, mining families and mining communities, while maintaining the important economic contribution that our industry is known for and relied upon,” NSW Minerals Council CEO Stephen Galilee said today.

“Mining operations are implementing extensive workforce protection measures in accordance with public advice, including enhanced monitoring, increased cleaning and sanitation, work from home policies, social distancing in crib rooms, enhanced screening measures for visitors and many more.”

“Today we have also commenced a public information campaign in key mining regions to support these measures and to reassure mining communities that our industry is taking all necessary steps to ensure our workforce is as safe as possible and our mines are able to provide jobs and economic stability now and into the future.”

“The campaign will initially be delivered through radio and social media, but may be expanded as we consider other communications measures to support efforts to protect public health during this crisis.”

The NSW mining sector ended 2019 in a strong position, with record coal export volumes, strong gold prices and record exploration spending.

So far in 2020, there has been strong demand for coal with minor variations in prices, offset by lower currency rates. However, it is too early to tell what the longer-term economic impact of the current global challenge will be.

Mining is a key industry for NSW. The sector provides around 40,000 direct jobs and supports tens of thousands more jobs in around 7000 mining supplier businesses across the state.

Mining also provides our state’s most valuable exports and sustains the local economies of many regional communities across NSW.

The initial radio ads can be found here:

https://bit.ly/supportingourworkforcev1

https://bit.ly/supportingourworkforcev2

Callum Fountain