Mr GREG WARREN (Campbelltown) (15:43): I am delighted to make a brief contribution on this important legislation, the Coal Innovation Administration Amendment Bill 2026. It is not complicated but it is important and essential. I acknowledge my learned friend and colleague opposite, the member for Upper Hunter, who is a passionate advocate for the coal industry in that region. I press the point about the importance of the coal industry because I think it gets lost in debate over time. I am fortunate to represent a community with a proud coal industry, though not to the level of the Hunter, that fed the steelworks as far back as BHP and the Appin mines, down through Tahmoor, where some challenges have been going on in recent times.
There is no more important or greater challenge than supporting the industry that supports our economy and the livelihoods of many people in every community, but also supports the worker. On this side of the House, as a proud Labor member of Parliament, I have never lost sight of the fact that I fight for and represent the worker. That includes workers in the coal industry. That said, I will now draw the House's attention to the specifics of the bill, which makes the legislative amendments required to effect the dissolution of Coal Innovation NSW, as committed to by the Government in the NSW Coal Industry 2026-50 policy.
The administration of the Coal Innovation NSW Fund remains the responsibility of the Minister for Natural Resources and her delegates. I take this opportunity to acknowledge the hard work and efforts of my friend in the other place Minister Courtney Houssos and her team and the relevant agency stakeholders who have put a lot of work into bringing this together so that we can debate it on the floor of the Chamber today. To effect the dissolution of Coal Innovation NSW, part 3 of the Coal Innovation Administration Act 2008 and additional provisions providing for the establishment, functions and operations of Coal Innovation NSW will be repealed and/or amended.
Coal Innovation NSW was established in 2008 to lead the Government's initiatives in the development of clean coal technology and carbon abatement. Coal Innovation NSW was established under the Act to provide advice to the Minister on the allocation of funds for innovative projects aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from coal-based industries. The dissolution of Coal Innovation NSW will not impact the Government's commitment to achieving net zero targets. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the coal industry remains just as important as it was when Coal Innovation NSW was established and will now be supported by the Net Zero Industry and Innovation Program.
I reiterate something I have long believed in—and I will not change my belief in—and that is the market. There is much debate in this State and in the fringe populist levels of either side. But the reality is that while the market demands, the market will receive and get supply. There is no difference with the coal industry. To those who constantly carry on or use this issue and the coal industry to agitate communities for political purposes, I say that they are not doing any justice to those families and communities who rely on this industry for their livelihoods and have done so for generations. My wife is a product of the coal industry, from her grandfathers and her father, but she is no different to many others who grew up in the Hunter at that time.
I ask those who like to politicise this issue to think about what they are saying and doing, and the effect their words and actions have and, to a certain degree, the fright they put on those communities and those workers. I am proud to be a member of a government that supports this industry, as it is supporting other important investments through the industry, particularly in the Hunter region, around Tomago. We will be building trains again in New South Wales, in the Hunter. There are many important initiatives and Government policy positions. The recent Hunter Valley Operations [HVO] announcement, for example, is so important for that community.
Other commentary has appeared in the media in recent times. We have heard public contributions from people seeking to enter this place who do not support trains being built in the Hunter. They would prefer that those trains were built overseas. By extension, unless I am going a bit silly, that means they are not supporting Australian jobs. Presumably, if they do not support trains being built in New South Wales or the workers who are the backbone of that industry, then they are clearly not for the Australian worker. I am proud to be a member of a government and to serve in a Parliament that is for the worker. I note many members opposite support workers as well. The member for Upper Hunter supports that industry, those workers and their families. But other fringe‑dwelling populists make public commentary simply for their own political benefit, which does nothing except highlight why they should not be in this place.
Consider the announcement to save jobs at Tomago. The fringe-dwelling populists say, "No, don't want that. We want to see all the workers out of a job and the industry shut down." Members on this side of the House and the Parliament do not support that. But I am not letting those opposite off the hook. We saw their failures over and over again. There was a lot of talk from them but not much action. Power plants were flogged off for a dollar or thereabouts, forcing this Government and others to buy them back. Some very opaque, ridiculous decisions have been made about the coal industry. But I know for certain that this Government has always supported industry and the worker, and will continue to do so. We do not just talk about it; we act. Whether it is building trains in the Hunter again, Hunter Valley Operations, Tomago or the legislation before the House, we make sure we are supporting industries that are vital to our economy and essential for communities and families.
The bill will amend the Coal Innovation Administration Act 2008 to effect a dissolution of Coal Innovation NSW, among other things. At 31 January 2026, there was $22 million remaining in the Coal Innovation NSW Fund. Some $12.9 million is committed to the ventilation air methane abatement demonstration project at Appin coalmine. While that coalmine is just outside my electorate, I am privileged to represent many of its workers and their families. I will serve their needs and support that industry. Some $4.6 million is forecast for allocation to stage two of the CO2 storage program. Any remaining funds will be retained for operational and administrative purposes.
I note those opposite will not oppose the legislation, and I thank them for that. It shows how sensible this Parliament can be when it comes together to achieve important things for vital industries. There are not too many industries in New South Wales and this country more vital than the coal industry. I thank the House.
