And it is doubly ironic that the state where most of the anti-coal rhetoric comes from - Victoria - is faring worst.

According to employment agency Seek, job ads in Victoria declined 6.4% in the past two weeks compared to the previous fortnight and were sitting at 50.3% of pre-COVID levels.

This compares with the rest of the country, with a growth in most states and territories over the past fortnight.

Seek job ads volumes for WA compared to February 2020 are 89.5% and 83.3% for Queensland.

WA is riding high with iron ore exports, while Queensland continues to produce record amounts of coal.

The story is different in Victoria and to a lesser extent New South Wales, which fortunately has a robust coal industry to buttress its economy from the loss of tourism and higher education from foreign students.  

While NSW is not as bad as Victoria things are looking perilous at 65.5%.

Granted the Victorian government had to go in lock down mode because of a wave of COVID-19 infections in the community.

However, Queensland, which was criticised for being overly strict for limiting New South Welshman cross the border, is in a position where its powerful coal industry continues to ship tonnes and employ people throughout its regions as well as in Brisbane.       

The lesson from all of this is clear: anti-Adani rallies, climate change protests, and anti-coal posters do not put food on the table during normal times, let alone during a pandemic.

State leaders have to mobilise their most productive industries to keep their economies moving during these times and it is essential they stop reading the talking points provided to them by young media minders about saving the planet and eliminating coal and getting on with the job of providing jobs.

Research by the NSW Minerals Council revealed mining had the potential to significantly boost the NSW economic recovery with 32 mining projects at various stages in the NSW planning system.

NSW Minerals Council CEO Stephen Galilee said those projects had the potential to deliver almost $13 billion in investment and more than 15,500 jobs for NSW to help support and rebuild the economy and boost regional development across the state.

The evidence is there to see for everyone, however, our politicians seem slow to articulate policies that encourage coal and mining projects that deliver employment when it is most vitally needed.