Meet Coal Australia: a corporate-backed coal lobby group posing as a grassroots movement
Coal Australia is a new, industry-funded lobby group designed to promote coal expansion, block urgent climate action, and increase the coal industry's political influence.
It presents itself as a voice for communities and workers, but in reality, it's fronted by ex-media producers1 and backed by some of the largest coal corporations in the country, including Whitehaven Coal, New Hope Group, Bowen Coking Coal, Vitrinite, Kestrel Coal, and Stanmore Resources.
Coal Australia is not a grassroots movement - it's a corporate front designed to protect fossil fuel interests.
What is Coal Australia doing?
⚠️ Seeking political influence
Coal Australia has rapidly positioned itself as a powerful player in energy and climate policy. In its first few months, it met with the Queensland Government’s Resources Cabinet Committee to push for faster coal approvals and fewer regulations2, and they claim a range of politicians have thrown their support behind them3.
💰 Backed by industry
Coal Australia's funding sources are not transparent, but its ties to major coal corporations are clear. In its first three months, it contributed over $1 million to third-party organisations pushing pro-coal, anti-renewable messages. According to The Australian4, this includes:
- $613,500 to the Australian Institute for Progress: they take credit for the election of the pro-coal government in the last Queensland election5
- $495,000 to Australians for Prosperity: a likely "astroturfing" campaign, they’ve come under fire from the AEC recently6
These think tanks have supported advertising campaigns that echo industry talking points and falsely promote nuclear energy as an alternative to renewables.
The facts about Coal Australia's claims
Coal drives climate risk and economic instability
Coal is the single largest contributor to global warming. The mining and burning of coal fuels extreme weather events like cyclones, floods and bushfires – events that have devastating effects on communities, infrastructure, and health.
Coal Australia downplays these impacts and funds efforts to delay a clean energy transition – despite overwhelming scientific consensus from the IPCC7 that coal must be rapidly phased out to ensure a safe and stable future.
Renewables are cheaper - nuclear is a delay tactic
Nuclear power is expensive, slow, and not feasible in Australia for decades8. Despite this, Coal Australia supports pro-nuclear campaigns, a strategy to delay real solutions – and prolong coal’s dominance in the energy mix9.
Queensland’s coal fleet is ageing fast, becoming more expensive and unreliable by the hour. Experts, including the CSIRO10 and the Australian Energy Market Operator11, confirm that renewables plus storage are already the most cost-effective energy option to replace coal.
This isn't about workers - it's about corporate profits
Coal corporations involved in Coal Australia have resisted fair wage negotiations and cut jobs to boost profits. For example, Whitehaven Coal has publicly opposed multi-employer bargaining reforms and reduced workforce numbers despite reporting record earnings12 13.
Meanwhile, Australians are paying the price – through rising insurance premiums, disaster recovery costs, and a more unstable climate.
Coal Australia is not what it seems
Coal Australia claims to represent everyday Australians – but it was launched by executives at a private club in Brisbane14 and is backed by major fossil fuel companies.
It exists to:
- Delay the clean energy transition
- Promote coal over cheaper, safer alternatives
- Influence political debate to favour coal expansion
While real communities face rising costs, worsening disasters, and uncertain futures, corporate lobby groups like Coal Australia are working to keep us locked into the past.
What can we do about it?
Coal Australia is fuelling division, but they can't succeed if people everywhere know the truth - that Coal Australia is nothing more than a loud voice for a wealthy few.
It’s time to make as many people as possible aware of Coal Australia and their misinformation. Because the more people who know about their dangerous political manipulation, the less power Coal Australia will have.
Follow this link for a video you can share on your own social media channels to spread the word.