Bill promises full long service leave payouts for Newcastle coal workers

newy.com.au – Workers in Newcastle and the Hunter’s black coal mining industry are being promised access to all of their long service leave entitlements under Albanese Labor Government legislation announced on Wednesday 26 November 2025.

In a joint media release, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Amanda Rishworth and Member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon said the Bill before Federal Parliament was designed to make sure eligible employees receive the long-service leave they are owed, with some entitlements dating back 15 years.

The release said “The Albanese Labor Government is ensuring employees in the black coal mining industry in Newcastle and the Hunter will get access to their long service leave entitlements under legislation introduced to Federal Parliament.” It added that “The Bill ensures eligible workers get their full entitlements, some dating back 15 years.”

Long service leave is an additional period of paid leave that workers become entitled to after extended service. According to the government, the legislation is aimed at workers in the black coal industry who have missed out on, or face delays accessing, their accrued entitlements.

Under the proposed arrangements, employers will be able to opt in to voluntary payment plans to deal with outstanding long service leave debts. The media release said that employers who participate will have a two-month window once the provisions commence to sign up, six years to pay historical arrears through instalments, and will have 20% of their debt waived.

Despite the debt relief on offer to businesses, the government said there would be no discount for workers. “Employees will receive 100% of their long service leave entitlements,” the release stated.

The changes will operate within the existing Coal LSL Scheme, which the government described as providing “portable long service leave for eligible employees in the black coal mining industry, meaning entitlements move with workers when they change jobs within the industry.” The scheme is “funded by a levy on employers and ensures workers keep their entitlements even if they change employers.”

Rishworth and Claydon argued the measures would improve security for coal workers in Newcastle and across the Hunter by guaranteeing their leave is properly recorded and paid, regardless of which company employs them over the course of their career.

The Bill is now before Federal Parliament, where it will be debated alongside other workplace relations legislation in the coming sittings.