A second wave of job cuts has hit Queensland’s coal sector this week, with Anglo American confirming redundancies at its Brisbane office and across its Bowen Basin operations. Local officials estimate more than 200 roles have been affected, including workers at the Grosvenor underground coal mine near Moranbah, which has remained closed since a 2024 underground fire.
The announcement comes just days after BHP Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) said it would scrap 750 jobs and mothball its Saraji South mine from November. Together, the two decisions are expected to affect more than 1,000 roles, sparking fresh concern for the future of coal-dependent communities in Central Queensland.
Isaac Regional Council Mayor Kelly Vea Vea warned that regional towns were shouldering the brunt of the industry’s turbulence. “This is a huge issue, not just for the viability of the industry, but for communities,” she said, adding that workers should not become “collateral damage” in the ongoing standoff between miners and the Queensland government over royalties.
Anglo American’s vice president of people and corporate relations, Ben Mansour, framed the workforce changes as critical to “ensuring the long-term sustainability” of its steelmaking coal operations. The company cited lower coal prices and rising costs as key pressures.
BMA also pointed to the state’s royalty regime as a decisive factor. Under the progressive system, royalties rise as coal prices increase—a structure that analysts say is squeezing margins as prices soften. “You cannot put such a high royalty in place and then expect that when times get tough you’re not going to have mine closures,” said MineLife analyst Gavin Wendt.
Queensland Treasurer and Energy Minister David Janetzki reiterated that the government has no plans to alter the royalty scheme, though he flagged “exciting investment announcements” ahead. For resource communities, however, the immediate concern is how to weather the uncertainty as miners, governments, and global markets shape the sector’s next chapter.