The NSW Minerals Council has sent a warning shot to both sides of parliament, saying the votes of miners could decide the outcome of next year’s state election.
The warning comes as the NSW Government holds a Community Cabinet meeting in Maitland today- a mining electorate likely to be a key battleground in the state election next year.
“With a history of close contests and an incumbent MP on a tight 4.9 per cent margin, the result in this seat is likely to be determined by the votes of the 2155 local mining workers and their families,” NSW Minerals Council CEO Stephen Galilee said today.
“Maitland is a seat the Government will want to hold, while Labor will be hoping to win the seat back. It is bound to be a hard-fought contest with the outcome likely to depend upon who wins the mining vote.”
“Maitland is one of several electorates across the Hunter where the votes of mining workers and those in jobs linked to the mining industry will have a significant impact on the outcome.”
“We will be ensuring people working in our industry and others working in related businesses are fully informed of the policies of the parties and candidates towards mining before they cast their vote at the next state election,” Mr Galilee said.
“Maitland has a long association with mining, and local miners continue to have a strong community presence. In Maitland, mining votes matter,”
The NSW Minerals Council’s 2012-13 Economic Impact Survey found that there were 2,155 direct mining employees residing in the Maitland electorate. The survey also found that local mining companies spent $894 million with 879 local business in Maitland, with this spending contributing indirectly to an additional 12,400 local jobs.
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