I spent all my working life in coal mines, firstly in Lithgow and then in the Illawarra region, before retiring in 2020.

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In that time I learned a lot about how to cut coal, but even more so, I learned a lot about the people who work in those mines.

Their fears, hopes and dreams and how they feel about the changing world.

Since retiring I have become a passionate advocate for renewable industries and for those industries to be established, where possible, in areas where coal mines will close.

The driving motivation behind this is to cut climate pollution so my grandkids have a shot at a safer future; but also so the people who have helped to power Australia for decades have jobs to transfer into when those mines are shut down, to avoid the devastating effects that mass unemployment has on rural communities.

And let's be clear: coal is on its way out and the mines will close.

The news this week that South Korea will phase out coal power by 2040, with many plants closing even earlier, should put to bed any idea that Australia can rely on coal forever.

South Korea isn't some minor customer, it's our fourth- largest buyer of coal and has the seventh-highest number of coal-fired power stations in the........

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