"We need to get out of coal and gas while supporting coal and gas workers" because coal and gas workers are not the enemy!

The message from The Greens to coal and gas workers is simple: Thank you. You have built the foundation of our country's industries whilst constantly battling to protect your wages and your rights against privatisation and often without support from the sitting government.

The Greens' $19 billion Job-For-Job guarantee will ensure that for 10 years - as our nation begins to transition away from fossil fuel reliance - that workers in the coal and gas industry will have their wages and secure work protected.

We can do this by investing back in regional communities such as Hunter, Paterson, Shortland and Newcastle and being the driver of growth in sustainable manufacturing.

One of the key things we realise is that the best job for a miner to transition into is a different mine. We cannot manufacture and grow our renewable industries without minerals, so we will back the growing Green Minerals Sector and we will support building and manufacturing in Australia again.

And we'll make the multi-national corporations who want nothing more than to pay you less and reap the rewards of your hard labour - pay for your future.

I have lived in this beautiful Cessnock for 14 months and have loved every minute.

However, I am astounded that the car park behind IGA and the Post Office is allowed to be in such horrific disrepair. Surely some authority should step in and demand that is deemed suitable for a car park.

Another problem is I see a lot of elderly utilising it. Imagine if one of them, or any other person for that matter, fell into a hole.

I'm writing to express my deep appreciation to everyone across NSW who supported The Smith Family's 2022 Back to School Appeal.

Our vision is to help young Australians experiencing disadvantage to create better futures for themselves. We launched our appeal calling for extra support to help students re-engage with their education, after another tough year due to COVID-19.

For families and their children, this year's return to school may have been the toughest yet. Not only are we concerned the pandemic has exacerbated the gap in learning outcomes between children living in poverty and their more advantaged peers, we're also worried families are facing more hardships, including rising living costs, a housing affordability crisis, and ongoing impacts of the digital divide.

When any family faces ongoing financial difficulties, it makes it harder for them to support their children's education. We know there are still thousands of young Australians who don't have access to the education essentials they need to learn, and we're concerned it'll be those who can least afford it, who'll continue to struggle.

Our Learning for Life education program provides emotional, practical and financial support to children and young people. And thanks to the wonderfully generous response to our sponsorship appeal, we'll be able to provide around 3,000 more students with evidence-based and life-changing support for the duration of their education. To learn more about Learning for Life, and how you can be part of a growing community of sponsors tackling the effects of poverty on the education of young Australians, visit thesmithfamily.com.au.

For 100 years, The Smith Family has been working to improve the lives of children in need. Our goal is to have a lasting and positive impact on students and families, and generations to come. So, to everyone who generously contributed to our Appeal - thank you very much.