NSW Dept of Planning and Environment
A NSW Government website
During 1946 the Commonwealth and New South Wales state governments agreed to continue the wartime regulation of the mining industry. The two Governments decided to establish a joint permanent authority to which New South Wales, the State where the bulk of Australia’s coal was produced, would have most of the power and contribute a limited amount of finance and the Commonwealth would contribute most of the finance but would have limited power. The general powers and functions of the Board remained unchanged for the entire period of its operation. There were some organisational changes and the numbers of staff increased. During the 1970s the Board's activities were extended and there was a Head Office in Sydney and five regional offices, one each at Newcastle, Singleton, Cessnock, Lithgow and Wollongong. In 1992 the Coal Industry (Amendment) Act 1992 commenced operation. The Joint Coal Board’s powers and functions remained identical, but their activities were slightly changed. Under schedule 2 of the Act the activities of the Board were clearly focused on health and welfare issues. The Joint Coal Board was abolished under Part 2 of the Coal Industry Act 2001 (Act No. 107, 2001). From 1 January 2002 the Board ceased to exist and its activities, together with the Mines Rescue Board, were merged into a new private company called Coal Services Pty Ltd which then had responsibility for workers compensation and occupational health. © State of New South Wales through Museums of History NSW
