Keneally, who arrived at the mine as one shift was finishing and a new shift was just starting, also praised the miners for their hard work in maintaining a viable coal mining industry in the Illawarra.

NRE 1 employs 350 people and produces about 1 million tonnes of coal a year.

"I'm here today to thank you for being the backbone of the economy, particularly here in the Illawarra," AAP quoted her as saying.

"I'm here today to acknowledge the work that you do and to say that we're here to stand up for your rights, we're here to stand up for your families and the families of Illawarra and New South Wales.

"You work hard. I work hard and I'm not going to stop working until the polls close on the 26th of March."

Keneally also warned mine workers of cuts to jobs, services and public holidays if, as expected, the Coalition wins government this Saturday.

"As we go to this election, [opposition leader Barry] O'Farrell has already assumed, in fact last night on the TV news he already said, he was going to be the premier," she said.

"Well, I'm not taking the election for granted, I'm not taking the people for granted and I'm certainly not expecting, as Mr O'Farrell is, to walk into office with a blank cheque."

O'Farrell still had not released any of the Coalition’s major policies, Keneally said.

"What I ask of you is to talk to your work colleagues, talk to your family, talk to your friends about what an O'Farrell government would mean to them and their families ... because Mr O'Farrell's not telling us what it is he would do."