A report released by the Australia Institutes included modelling that shows developing new coal mines in the Galilee Basin would cost 12,500 jobs in existing coal mining regions and replace on two in three workers.
The report concludes that even if thermal coal exports increased the highly automated mines would on balance costs to the industry.
The findings in the report contradict the expected job creation that supporters of the Adani’s Carmichel mega mine and proposals in the untapped Galilee Basin had predicted.