Future Sooner’s citizen led inquiry exposes health impacts of coal power to drive change for Central Coast communities

Today in Parliament, Abigail successfully passed a motion recognising the powerful community led launch of Untold Stories, a landmark report driven by local voices and expert insights, shining a light on the health impacts of coal-fired power stations and the strength of grassroots advocacy.

Abigail said:

I move:

(1) That this House notes that:

on Tuesday 25 March 2025, community-led advocacy group Future Sooner held an event in NSW Parliament to launch “Untold Stories”, a landmark report on the recent citizens inquiry into health concerns arising from coal‑fired power stations conducted last year,
speakers at the event included:
- De Brierley Newton, Future Sooner Convenor,
- Jackie Pearson, Citizens Inquiry Media Spokesperson and Central Coast Community Environment Network (CEN) Community Liaison Officer,
- Abigail Boyd MLC,
- Dr Ian Charlton, Citizens Inquiry Chair and Associate Professor,
- Gary Blashke OAM, Future Sooner Spokesperson, and
- witnesses with lived experience,
Future Sooner was established in 2020 by local residents from across the Central Coast, Lake Macquarie and Hunter Valley regions, to raise public awareness about the environmental and human health impacts of coal-fired power, and to push for government action to protect the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment,
since its establishment, Future Sooner has achieved numerous significant feats including securing action from the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to cap the toxic emissions coming from Vales Point power station, working with local health districts to monitor air quality and hosting the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Toxicity at a community meeting to discuss the health impacts of local coal-fired power stations (which had a major influence on the Rapporteur’s final report),
after years of gathering peer-reviewed scientific evidence on the profound health impacts of coal-fired power stations, Future Sooner held a public hearing on the Central Coast in August 2024 to give people living around Vales Point, Eraring and Colongra/Munmorah coal-fired power station sites the opportunity to tell their own stories about how they believe living near these big emitters had affected their health,
the public hearing was overseen by a panel comprising of Associate Professor Dr Ian Charlton, Honorary Professor Gill Boehringer, Dr Thomas Bunn, Dr Ben Ewald, Dr Bronwyn McDonald, Professor Peter Sainsbury, Dr Merlene Thrift and Associate Professor Ian A Wright,
the report contains 11 key recommendations informed by evidence and testimony gathered throughout the citizens inquiry, as well as an additional six specific recommendations relating to action on air pollution and the remediation of coal ash dams, and
the report is the culmination of dedicated community advocates working over several years in collaboration with scientific experts, medical professionals, former power station workers, local residents and various government bodies.

(2) That this House commends the work of all the dedicated volunteers from communities across the Central Coast, Lake Macquarie and Hunter Valley regions for their tireless advocacy in fighting for a clean, equitable and healthy future for people and planet.

Motion agreed to.

Read the transcript Hansard here.

6 May 2025

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Future Sooner’s citizen led inquiry exposes health impacts of coal power to drive change for Central Coast communities

A UNIVERSAL WELLBEING PAYMENT FOR NSW

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