Coal news and updates

Calls for Australia to commission research into impacts of coal

The 'Coal and health in the Hunter' report, released yesterday, claims health costs from coal mining and power stations in the Hunter Valley are more than $650 million each year.

But the report was dismissed by both the state government and the New South Wales Minerals Council, insisting the industry benefits outweighed the costs.

Peter Sainsbury from Sydney University's School of Public Health says he is astounded that there has been funding for a study into the health effects of wind farms, but nothing on coal.

"It's remarkable isn't it that the National Health and Medical Research Council puts out a report saying there's no real evidence that wind farms damage health," he said.

"We know coal mining, coal burning damages health - there's loads of evidence from around the world.

"But is Australia plowing a similar amount of money to follow the health of people in the Hunter Valley? No, it's not."

source: http://www.abc.net.au