I want to talk about something that's incredibly important to the Hunter: jobs. We need good, secure, well-paid jobs that allow families to put food on the table, pay their mortgages and build their futures in the communities that they call home, and that's why the recent approval of the Hunter Valley Operations continuation project is such a significant win for our region. This isn't about opening a brand new coal mine. It's about allowing an existing operation to continue supporting the workers, businesses and communities that rely on it and it's about recognising the enormous contribution mining continues to make to the Hunter and to this beautiful country, Australia.

HVO supports around 1,500 mine workers and has relationships with approximately 750 suppliers. Over four years it contributed an estimated $6.9 billion to our economy. That's an enormous contribution and one that deserves recognition in this parliament. Behind those figures are real people: the miners heading off to work before sunrise; the fitters, the leccos, the boilies, the operators and the apprentices; the small businesses supplying parts, equipment and services; and the local shops, sporting clubs and community organisations that benefit when those workers spend their wages locally. Mining doesn't just support the people working behind the mine gates; it supports entire communities.

I'm a former coal miner myself. I know what these jobs mean for families because I've worked alongside the people doing them, and I'm tired of hearing mining workers being spoken about as if they're somehow part of the problem. They are not. They are hardworking Aussies who have helped build this country and will continue playing an important role in its future.

Now let's talk about the environment, because I believe we can support our mining industry and take climate change seriously also. Australia has committed to reaching net zero emissions by 2050, but what does net zero actually mean? It doesn't mean producing absolutely no emissions. It means reducing greenhouse gas emissions as far as possible and balancing the remaining emissions out through genuine removal from the atmosphere. Every time we fart, we produce methane. Every time we breathe, we produce carbon dioxide. That's part of the natural carbon cycle, and it's different from releasing additional carbon into the atmosphere from burning fossil fuels.

The challenge is reducing the additional emissions driving climate change, and that means looking at the full picture. Solar panels don't magically appear in paddocks. Wind turbines don't just grow out of the ground. Electric vehicles don't arrive at dealerships without someone mining the materials, manufacturing the components and transporting them right around the world. All of that requires energy, resources and industrial activity. All of that has an environmental footprint. Over their operating lives, renewable energy and electric vehicles can deliver substantial emissions savings that outweigh much of the initial impact, and that's why they're part of the solution, but we can't pretend the environmental costs of building them don't exist. We need to measure emissions properly across the whole lifecycle and apply consistent standards. You can't demand an honest accounting of coal's environmental impacts while ignoring the mining and manufacturing needed for technologies replacing it.

There's also an important conversation to be had about the quality of coal being used around the world. Some Australian coal has advantages over lower-quality alternatives, including higher energy content and lower impurities. That can improve efficiency and reduce certain pollutants, but emissions depend on the coal, the power station and how it's used. We should be making decisions based on evidence, not slogans. While countries continue to use coal, Australia has an opportunity to supply customers under strong environmental and workplace and safety standards. The world is changing and our region is changing with it, but transition won't happen overnight. We cannot expect regional communities to carry the entire burden while everyone else enjoys the benefits of the energy, steel and resources they produce.

The Hunter has powered this country for generations and the skills of our miners, our engineers, our tradies and our manufacturers will help build the next generation of energy infrastructure too. The minerals, machinery, steel and expertise needed for the transition all have to come from somewhere. Mining will be part of this and how we reach net zero also. So let's support our workers, back responsible mining and invest in the industries of tomorrow. The Hunter deserves a future with both a strong economy and a healthier environment.

To every miner out there, thank you for what you do. You go into very dangerous environments every day of the week. Keep up the great work. While people want to buy our coal, we'll always sell them our coal. So, to the miners in the Hunter, remember, we have your backs. We'll support you along the way. Thank you for what you do. Cheers!