Sky News host Chris Smith says it’s time Australia “stopped demonising coal”, broadcasting from inside Airly Coal Mine to show the human faces behind an industry “we should be proud of”.

“14 months ago, I’d almost been given final clearance to do what we’re doing tonight, broadcast live from inside a coalmine,” Mr Smith said.

“But COVID-19 struck, and it was all off.”

Mr Smith said it’s time we “stopped this fantasy” that as soon as we cease mining coal, renewables “magically fill the baseload power void”.

“An impossibility, the battery technology required to store power from unreliable solar and wind, is way behind,” he said.

“Hydrogen concepts are in their infancy and gas faces the same kind of Green objections that coal has faced for years now”.

“I’m down here tonight to stand up for coal, to hear from those in the know, and show you the human faces behind an industry we should be proud of.”