Quote Originally Posted by pv4 View Post
According to Wiki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy...tralia#Sectors) "the total mining sector is 19% of GDP". Also (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mining_...alia#Economics) "mineral exports contribute around 35% of Australia's exports".

Now SB I think you're getting a little confused. This whole topic started based around Newy. You're taking it to a much larger scale. The State of Newy is all we're caring about. And if you're Pro-Newy, you are Pro-Coal. This town was built based around mining - we are literally living in a giant coalfield.



This may be a personal stab, and excuse me if it is - but you're in the photography/arts/etc industry, you're probably used to having a lot of friends/acquaintances in your industry without jobs. I have a lot of local (Newy/Hunter) friends/acquaintances in the mining industry - and I'm telling you that they're losing their jobs, and there's SFA manufacturing for them to fall back on. I have more than half a dozen friends that are more than acquaintances who have been working in the mining industry for quite some time, and are currently job-less. A couple of which are Jets fans, and can't afford season memberships. I have a few friends from Muswellbrook who have to travel down to the Coast for work because their pits in the valley are on Care&Maintanence or just stopped altogether. I've got local friends on the Lake whose pits are in C&M and are worried about losing their jobs.

Like I said - you live in a coalfield. Your home is a coalfield. If you're pro-Newy, you're pro-mining.

Alternative solutions sound great in the grand scheme - when my half a dozen mates are welding solar panels and fitting wind turbines, I'll probably be on that train too. But they're all sitting at home trimming their grass, not a job available in sight - Newy boys struggling. Support your fellow Newy boy - support mining.

#COALition
I'm a boilermaker by trade so I'm fully aware of many of the issues facing the workers of Newcastle. In a way mineworkers have shot themselves in the foot. By chasing the high wages, they have effectively shut themselves out of the traditional manufacturing industry. Really is the lack of jobs for your mates really because there is no work or because they do not wish to work for 17-20 bucks an away in a factory?

Secondly, through government policy, subsidies the alternative renewable industry could make up for the loss jobs and eventually drive down costs of energy. We are a technologically advanced nation. Lets use this expertise NOW and become a world leader in the design and manufacturing of renewable energy.

It's time for Newcastle to become an advanced city and until we move forward and leave the past behind, we will always be at the mercy of the ****s in Macquarie Street and Canberra.