The new Greens leader will head to mining communities over the next few months and tell them he wants to see more mines built.
They just shouldn't be in coal.
Adam Bandt, who took over the party's leadership three weeks ago, says people are often surprised to hear his pro-mining message.
Over the past two years, he's held meetings in coal mining communities with unions, councils and local businesses, and he's got more planned in NSW, WA and Queensland.
Mr Bandt says Australia owes a debt of thanks to mining workers for powering the country and his unexpected message is that the best job for a coal miner is another mining job..
"I've had the guys in the hi-vis vests just sitting there with their arms crossed sort of glaring at me all the way through," Mr Bandt told AAP on Tuesday.
"They'd come up to me afterwards and say, 'I don't agree with everything you say, but you're the only one here who's telling us the truth and being honest with us'."
He believes coal communities know the transition away from the highly polluting fuel is coming and they're crying out for leadership and honesty.
"I'll be pushing hard to, in fact, expand mining in areas that will set Australia up to be a renewable superpower."
That includes expanding the lithium industry in WA that can supply batteries for the world, and looking at rare earths and other minerals in Queensland that will be vital to a zero-carbon economy.
This revamped vision of mining is part of Mr Bandt's push for a Green New Deal, similar to that being implemented in Europe and promoted in the US.
He describes it as an exit strategy from the jobs, climate and inequality crises the country is stuck with right now.
His approach to the leadership is seen by some as more aggressive than his predecessors, particularly on climate action.
But he says ramping up the rhetoric is needed to properly convey the situation's urgency.
Mr Bandt talks passionately about warnings that the world is on track to warm by more than three degrees and what this will mean for his own daughters.
"The prime minister, in particular, has been misleading with his words and has led people into a false sense of security," he says.
"We've got to confront the reality of what is the grim life that's ahead for our kids unless we act in the next 10 years."
And he accuses Labor and the unions of being no better with their reassurances that coal will be part of the nation's economic future.
"If we don't have a plausible jobs-rich alternative for these communities, then the conservatives are going to keep winning elections in Queensland."
Australian Associated Press
