Tania Constable interview with ABC TV News Breakfast

Topics: High Court coal mine emissions ruling, mining investment concerns, skilled migration policy

E&OE

EMMA REBELLATO: Okay, let’s get some reaction to yesterday’s High Court decision over a Hunter Valley coal mine expansion. Now, the court found that planning authorities in New South Wales need to factor in emissions caused by the burning of fossil fuels overseas. Joining us in Canberra is the Minerals Council of Australia Chief Executive, Tania Constable. Hello, Tania.

TANIA CONSTABLE: Good morning, Emma and James.

EMMA REBELLATO: And no doubt you would have been watching this decision pretty closely. What was your reaction?

TANIA CONSTABLE: We were very concerned about this decision yesterday. I think enough is enough. This will send shivers down everybody’s spine that we have to take into account not just the emissions happening in Australia, but what happens overseas now.

EMMA REBELLATO: But does this go beyond New South Wales? Because we spoke to the Industry Minister, Tim Ayres, this morning. He thought it was particular to what’s going on in New South Wales.

TANIA CONSTABLE: Well, it is a decision that has been made in New South Wales, but it sets a bad precedent. All of the mines that are under active consideration in New South Wales will need to be thinking about this decision right now, and other jurisdictions from around Australia. So, it’s not right to say that it’s just New South Wales. Every mine site, every project, every industry should be taking this very seriously and thinking about the consequences.

EMMA REBELLATO: Well, some people might say that, well, the mining sector should be worried about what happens with their coal that’s exported overseas. Should you be taking responsibility for that?

TANIA CONSTABLE: Well, the mining industry already is taking responsibility, not just in the coal industry, but right across the mining industry. The Safeguard Mechanism, which encapsulates about 50 per cent of those facilities are mining facilities have been under that Safeguard Mechanism and we’ve seen emissions reduction across all of mining, about 12 per cent over the last two years. So, the Safeguard Mechanism is doing its job. The mining industry always considers emissions at a local level, and in Australia, and that’s where it should stay. The rest of the world needs to be doing its bit because Australia and Australian mining are certainly doing our fair share.

EMMA REBELLATO: Tania, do you think this could affect investment in Australia?

TANIA CONSTABLE: We’re very concerned, Emma, about investment in Australia. We don’t want to see mines going overseas, we don’t want to see projects going overseas. We need Australia to grow, we need wealthy Australians, and the mining industry has been doing the heavy lifting for generations now and we need to keep that going.

EMMA REBELLATO. So, what’s next? Is there anything else that can be done now?

TANIA CONSTABLE: Well, I think if governments are saying that this may not have consequences elsewhere, then they need to come back to the legislation and make it black and white in the legislation. The Scope 3 emissions should not be taken into account. So, what happens on projects, what happens with electricity generation that should occur in Australia but Scope 3 overseas, that should be that country’s responsibility. So, put it in legislation, make it black and white.

EMMA REBELLATO: Tania, on a separate note, we’ve heard the migration debate has been raging for quite some time. We’ve now got the policies of Labor, One Nation, of course, and the Coalition just in the past few days. What do you make of the Coalition’s policy of deep cuts to migration numbers?

TANIA CONSTABLE: Well, we want to see migration that brings skilled migration into Australia to invest in productive capacity. So, where we need the skills – whatever project that might be, whatever industry that might be in Australia – we support that. For our industry, that means engineers, geologists, it means electricians and diesel mechanics. They’re the sorts of trades and professions that we need. Bring those in when we have shortfalls, but we need to make sure there is a workforce plan that takes into account all of the industries across Australia. Construction, defence, manufacturing, mining, agriculture, all of those industries need to come together for a workforce plan that makes sense.

We need to invest in the housing to make sure that we do have accommodation to meet people’s needs. And we need to invest in the skills that Australia must have now and a little bit for the future, as well as growing our own. We can’t lose sight of that. We need to grow our own in Australia from graduates from the skills that we need, in terms of basic skills that we can’t get here in Australia and then grow them for the future. All of those things need to be done. So, numbers don’t matter as much as making sure that the plan is active and across a whole range of our needs in every workforce of Australia.

EMMA REBELLATO: Tania Constable, thanks for joining us.

TANIA CONSTABLE: Thanks very much for having me.