In Newcastle yesterday, ACA executive director Ralph Hillman said regions such as the Hunter Valley would be hit hard by the scheme.

He discussed the results of market research conducted on behalf of the ACA.

“This research confirms that coal mining communities have not been properly warned of the damaging consequences of the federal government’s Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme in its current form on regional Australia,” he said.

“This advertising campaign is providing people in the Hunter with accurate information about the new carbon tax and explaining how it will affect coal mining communities and other centres heavily dependent on a strong coal industry.

“People need to understand that mines will close and thousands of jobs could go as a direct result of the proposed tax. Even more frustrating is the reality that global carbon emissions will not be reduced.

“Every tonne of coal not produced in Australia as a result of this tax will simply be produced by our competitors who are not being penalised in the same way by their governments.

“Both the United States and European Union have specifically rejected taxing coal mines and both produce far higher emissions than we do.”

The CPRS was shot down by a 12-seat Senate margin in August, but the proposed scheme has another chance in mid-November.

Hillman said the ACA was asking people to contact their local MPs and voice their concerns about the consequences for coal mining communities and regions.

The ACA has set up a special protest website: www.cutemissionsnotjobs.com.au

According to the Australian, sources have revealed the brain child of the ACA’s multi-million dollar campaign against the CPRS is none other than Neil Lawrence, who created the “Kevin 07” campaign that helped put Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in office.

The newspaper hinted the ACA’s campaign could also be targeting key marginal federal seats in coal mining areas.

Such a strategy would factor in the possibility of a double dissolution federal election, should the same, previously blocked version of the scheme not pass the Senate in November.

Research undertaken for the ACA by Australian consultancy ACIL Tasman has estimated the scheme will cost up to 3300 coal sector jobs and 9900 jobs in total, with 16 mines to prematurely close in the first 10 years of implementation.