Chris Minns warns Hunter coal transition bill may stall

NSW Premier Chris Minns has indicated that legislation intended to diversify the Hunter region's economy away from coal may not pass the State Parliament before next year's state election. The Future Jobs and Investment Bill has been stalled in the upper house since November 2025.

The bill aims to support workers in coal-producing regions by establishing economic pathways, attracting new investment, and coordinating retraining and skills mapping. Minns has called on the crossbench and the coalition to allow the bill to go to a vote, stating, “Nail your colors to the mast and let us know whether you support the legislation or not.” He noted that the government's options are limited due to a lack of numbers but expressed commitment to pursuing the legislation if re-elected.