The Minerals Council of Australia has just released the full report for the New South Wales mining expenditure impact survey for 2021-22. I'm proud to inform the House that mining is alive and thriving, with the report showing that the mining industry contributed a record 6 billion in royalties, which is a 6.3 billion into the Hunter economy. This is another element of the industry which has grown, with this number being 6 billion.
Miners in the Hunter receive over 1.6 billion that's gone towards helping families to put food on the table and pay their mortgages. This is the money which is earned by locals in the Hunter and much of it will have gone straight back into local businesses in the Hunter, helping to support the local industries and sectors in my electorate. There was also 6.3 billion that it contributed to our economy over the last year makes up almost 30 per cent of the Hunter's gross regional product.
While there is no way to tell what the mining sector will look like in decades to come, one thing is for certain: the mining sector in the Hunter today is strong. And, as the result of this survey shows, over the past year mining in the Hunter has continued to grow. The New South Wales Minerals Council CEO Stephen Galilee said:
Thousands of locals will head to the polls on election day at least partially considering their vote based on who will best support a strong mining sector into the future.
His words could not be any truer. I've said it in this place before and I will say it again: let me assure the voters in my electorate that you will not find a stronger voice for the mining industry and its workers than me. I'm proud to be a Mining and Energy Union member, I'm a proud former coalminer and I'm also proud to be part of a Labor government that lets me fight for this mining sector as much as we need to.
The export market for coal is as strong as it's ever been and for as long as this continues, and it will for years and years to come, I will make sure that the Hunter remains at the forefront of supplying the best and cleanest coal in the world. Thank you to all the dedicated mineworkers in the Hunter and all around Australia for the long hours you all put in, and I hope you all get home safely.
