The NSW Government has confirmed the creation of the Future Jobs and Investment Authority, a body designed to support communities in coal-producing regions as they prepare for a changing economy. It will oversee the shift from reliance on coal mining toward more diverse industries and employment opportunities, starting with work in the Hunter and Central West.
The Authority will be backed by $27.3 million over four years from the 2025-26 state budget and supported by a separate fund containing over $100 million. This money had previously been held in the Royalties for Rejuvenation scheme but remained unspent under the former government. The Authority will now be responsible for managing how those funds are used, including in projects related to infrastructure, training, skills mapping, and planning for post-mining land use.
The NSW Government will continue its annual commitment of $22.5 million to the fund. The Authority’s work will also connect with the Federal Government’s Net Zero Economy Authority to better coordinate project delivery across jurisdictions.
Legislation will be introduced in coming months to formally establish the Authority, giving it powers beyond an advisory role and providing longer-term certainty for coal towns.
The Authority will include a central leadership team and four local Divisions – in the Hunter, Central West, Illawarra and North West – made up of representatives from local councils, businesses, unions and community organisations. These Divisions will offer direct input into the Authority’s work and ensure it responds to the needs of each area. An advisory board, reporting to the Minister for Natural Resources, will oversee its governance.
Minister for the Hunter Yasmin Catley said the model was about preparing communities for change while keeping them at the centre of decision-making.
“This is about putting the right structures in place to support our workers today while building a stronger, more diverse economy for tomorrow. It’s about future-proofing the Hunter, ensuring that we continue to be a place of opportunity, stability and prosperity for generations to come,” Catley said.
Groups such as the Hunter Jobs Alliance welcomed the announcement, pointing to changes made since the draft version was released in 2024. The new model is less bureaucratic, allows funding to flow more easily, and has a stronger focus on local delivery. The Alliance said it would continue to call for additional reforms, including a legislated job transfer scheme for affected workers and stronger obligations on mining companies to support workforce transition.
“These changes are a big win for workers and communities in the Hunter and other coal-producing regions, and much of it reflects the changes HJA has campaigned for since the original model was released,” said Justin Page from the Hunter Jobs Alliance.
The Authority will aim to prepare regions for long-term shifts in energy and employment. Although coal mining will remain a major industry for some time, government data suggests that by 2040, most of the state’s coal-fired power stations and a large share of coal mines will have closed. Currently, around 25,000 people are directly employed in coal mines, with many more in related industries and local businesses.
The new Authority’s focus will include attracting new industries, helping workers retrain, collecting regional workforce data, and ensuring local land planning supports new jobs. Each local Division will play a key role in driving these outcomes and sharing knowledge across government agencies.
The NSW Government says it will begin formal legislation later in the year. The Authority’s website will provide more information as it becomes available.
