Young Australians just won a human rights case against an enormous coal mine

Re:Young Australians just won a human rights case against an... by tomlockwood on Saturday November 26, 2022 @10:53PM (#33760142)

> After a quick scan of the judgement, it doesn't seem to consider the impact of stopping the mine on the rights of workers, energy consumers or the economy.

The rights of the economy (who?) are often at odds with the rights of workers - who in mining communities are often shafted when mine companies decide to shut down mines due to lower than optimal commodity prices. The landscape of Australia is strewn with abandoned mining communities, which once thrived, and who's wealth has been sent offshore due to a friendly tax regime which exists in service of the mythically important personage of the "economy".

Mines are not worker's friends, and mining companies certainly aren't.

I grew up in a mining community, I've lived in communities around Mackay and Moranbah. I salute this judgement.

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Re:Young Australians just won a human rights case against an... by brutusborn on Sunday November 27, 2022 @01:28AM (#33760886)

I'm interested in the tax regime you mentioned, how does local wealth get sent offshore?

In my experience mines opening tend to be good for local economies and provide good jobs. Unfortunately state governments don't have much incentive to care about rural communities, so FIFO has replaced many mining towns. If it was easier to make new towns, mining companies would do it, since FIFO is so expensive.

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Re:Young Australians just won a human rights case against an... by tomlockwood on Sunday November 27, 2022 @02:38AM (#33761201)

Companies do make new towns - a series of demountables that's moved offsite when the mine starts to wrap up. If companies cared enough they'd build sustainable towns in those areas - but they don't care about communities, they care about profit.

Australia's mining is 86% overseas owned. The rights over the mining "economy" are by vast majority held by overseas companies.

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Re:Young Australians just won a human rights case against an... by mrfreed on Sunday November 27, 2022 @02:51AM (#33761251)

You have a lot to say today.

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Re:Young Australians just won a human rights case against an... by sofixa on Wednesday November 30, 2022 @05:02AM (#33798857)

> In my experience mines opening tend to be good for local economies and provide good jobs

I have never heard anyone describe mining as a "good job". It's a terrible, physically intensive, extremely unhealthy and highly risky job. What's the life expectancy for coal miners like?

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Re:Young Australians just won a human rights case against an... by brutusborn on Friday December 09, 2022 @03:20AM (#33918939)

Not sure about coal miners, but I'm sure it's not good. But most mines where I live are open-pit, pay well and have solid OHS systems. Have you ever been to a mining region? I've almost always heard positive things from mining workers.

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