Hope for jobs as New Acland closer to re-opening

The Queensland Government has finally approved the lease for Stage 3 of the New Acland mine, raising hopes local workers will be re-employed at the mothballed mine west of Brisbane.

Queensland Resources Minister Scott Stewart approved the expansion in late August and New Hope Group is seeking expressions of interest for hundreds of roles while they wait for the final hurdle of a water license to be cleared.

Your Union will be pushing for all New Acland miners who lost their jobs when the mine went into care and maintenance last year to be re-employed. Mining at New Acland stopped on 26 November 2021.

Michael Hartin, a long-term New Acland coal miner and MEU Lodge Official, was one of the last people made redundant after mining closed at New Acland.

Michael Hartin MEU lodge official

He, along with many New Acland miners, has found work elsewhere in the booming Queensland coal industry but ended up having to work FIFO or DIDO, when previously they could commute to New Acland directly from home.

Michael said that, as soon as all approvals were finalised, the Union would seek assurances that New Hope would commit to local permanent jobs by hiring the previous workforce, and not filling roles through labour hire.

“As soon as the water license is granted we’ll be seeking talks with the company and once the mine is back up and running, we are looking forward to rebuilding our Lodge at New Acland.”