Rugby league stars sign on to support the mining industry

Rugby league’s biggest stars have thrown their support behind the mining industry in a bid to promote the benefits mining jobs have on local communities and the economy more broadly.

Jobs for Mining Communities (JMC), a new advocacy body headed by Grant Wechsel and Darren Lockyer, has launched a Queensland-wide campaign to promote mining’s role in powering Australia’s industrial strength and economic prosperity.

JMC founder and managing director Grant Wechsel says JMC provides a new platform to promote the interests of those living in mining communities by advocating for job creation, economic development and investment in amenity.

“I’ve been involved in the mining industry for over 20 years,” he said.

“I’m passionate about our industry and the benefits it provides to our economy, especially around jobs.

“Across the industry, we know how important what we do is to our country and the significant contribution our work makes to funding schools, hospitals and critical infrastructure.

“We also know the indirect impact our work has on supporting jobs in small local businesses like pubs, hairdressers, supermarkets, car dealerships and cafes, because if we’re not here, then they won’t be either.

“What’s important for us is that the broader public understands this and realises that without mining jobs, many of our major regional centres would be severely impacted and our smaller mining communities simply wouldn’t exist.”

A star-studded league lineup including Sam Thaiday, Danny Buderus, Ali Brigginshaw, Ben Hunt, Corey Oates, Harry Grant and Tamika Upton have signed on to promote JMC, with all having close ties to mining.

“I think you would be hard pressed to find a rugby league player who didn’t have some connection to Australia’s mining industry or have benefited in some way through the contribution mining makes to their community,” said Mr Wechsel.

“Ben grew up in Dingo in Central Queensland and his dad is still a coal miner.

“Tamika spent her childhood in towns like Rockhampton, Blackwater and Emerald and is now based in the Hunter, which is the world’s leading coal producing region.

“To have two of the games legends and five of the best of our current crop of players proudly waving the flag for our mining industry just goes to show how closely aligned our industries are.

“You also have to remember a lot of rugby league players didn’t come from highly affluent families and they have had to put in a lot of hard work to get to where they are.

“Same goes for a lot of people in our industry, they work hard but the result is a very well-paid job and the opportunity to provide for their families.

“The ties between our mining sector and the rugby league community run deep.”

JMC kicked off its campaign staring the rugby league players in Townsville at the Cowboys v Raiders game with advertising featuring prominently at Queensland Country Bank Stadium. The message then spread to Queensland’s biggest mining town, Brisbane, featuring at the Broncos v Storm game at Suncorp Stadium.

Advertising has now expanded to other mining communities across the state including Mackay, Rockhampton, Moranbah and Emerald across billboards, radio, social media, print and BVOD.

JMC’s mission is to boost these regions through job creation, promoting the significant contribution mining communities make to our national prosperity and instilling pride in the workers and communities.