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Australia’s first portable long service leave benefit turns 70

long service leave for the black coal mining industry has turned 70
Portable Long Service Leave turns 70 and celebrates

Today marks the 70th anniversary of Australia’s first portable long service leave benefit, administered by Coal LSL. To date, it is also the only nationally regulated portable long service leave scheme in Australia.

The entitlement was introduced for Australian black coal employees on 14 October 1949 to retain skilled labour in an industry that encountered challenging working conditions and extensive worker movement between employers.

Portable long service leave for Australia’s black coal mining industry was later preserved in Commonwealth legislation and has since inspired the establishment of portable long service leave in other Australian industries (1).

For 70 years this provision has supported skills retention in one of the most difficult but significant industries contributing to Australia’s economy. The metallurgical and thermal coal sectors in which Coal LSL’s clients work are Australia’s third and fourth largest export commodities respectively (2,3). They are projected to contribute a combined $55 billion to the national economy in 2020–21 (3).

Retaining the skilled coal mining workforce has also assisted Australia in earning the reputation of being a world leader in mining innovation and mining services (4).

Chair of the Coal LSL Board Brad Neven said, ‘We are proud of our role as an exemplary nationally portable long service leave scheme which supports Australia’s black coal mining industry in its significant contribution to the national economy.’

Coal LSL connects employers and employees with their long service leave and manages $1.83 billion in funds for 118,950 eligible employees and 780 registered employers (5).

Signature

About Coal LSL

Coal LSL connects employers and employees with long service leave for the good of Australia’s black coal mining industry, one of the largest contributors to Australia’s economy.

Sources

1. Economic, Education, Jobs and Skills Committee Parliament of Victoria (2016), Inquiry into portability of long service leave entitlements (p.5) 

2. Resources and Energy Quarterly, June 2019 (Foreword) 

3. Resources and Energy Quarterly, June 2019 (Resources and Energy Overview)

4. Australia’s National Resources Statement (no publication date) Read ; The Next Frontier: Australian Mining Policy Priorities, Minerals Council of Australia, February 2019 (p. 3) Read

5. At 30 June 2019, Coal LSL Annual Report 2018-19.

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