Hugh Tobin

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Hugh Tobin is Director - North Australia Project for the Institute of Public Affairs (IPA), a corporate-funded think tank based in Melbourne. The IPA states that, as part of its North Australia Project, it is "working with Australians for Northern Development and Economic Vision (ANDEV) to develop policies for a more competitive Northern Australia". Tobin stated in the media release that the federal government "should put in place a Special Economic Zone in Northern Australia. A low tax, low regulation zone would drive continued long term investment in the Australian resource industry."

Tobin on coal

In a media release Tobin argued that "preventing new coal mines from opening would be catastrophic for the Australian economy, particularly in the North. In New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia there are 50 coal projects due to start in the next three years alone," he said. "Coal is the top export for both New South Wales and Queensland. It contributes $8.4 billion to the NSW economy and $20.5 billion to the Queensland economy. A few wind turbines aren't going to replace the coal industry in terms of jobs or energy output anytime soon. The Greens also want to stop the development of the coal seam gas industry. This industry represents a huge opportunity for many regional Australian communities which deserve the chance to benefit from this resource."

Articles and resources

Related SourceWatch articles

• Australia and coal

External resources

• "Hugh Tobin: Publications", Institute of Public Affairs archive, accessed May 2011.
• Institute of Public Affairs, "Vision For A New North", Facebook. This is a Facebook page for the IPA's North Australia Project.