The Illawarra's bustling coal industry would expire if a carbon tax was to be introduced in Australia, leading to thousands of job losses locally, Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott insisted yesterday.Mr Abbott's visit to Helensburgh's Peabody Metropolitan Mine was an extremely pertinent one, according to workers, who hold similar uncertainties about what impact a price on carbon would have on the industry if introduced.The Liberal leader toured the coking coal facility, travelling 10km underground to the face of the mine's long wall.Veterans of the industry, including a third-generation coalminer, expressed their concern during the 90-minute visit.Metropolitan mine manager Andrew Hyslop said most workers accepted the science behind climate change and supported cleaner energy but remained doubtful about the validity of the Government's carbon tax."It's an issue often discussed here, because it's something that workers are worried about," he said. "Workers aren't completely sure about what a carbon tax will mean ... they're not concerned about employment at the moment but they definitely want to know what [future] impact it will have."Mr Abbott called on Illawarra MPs to reject the "toxic tax"."This mine will be one of the many mines under threat if Julia Gillard's carbon tax goes ahead," he said."Over time, the carbon tax spells death for the coal industry and that is very bad news for the Illawarra ... coal is our biggest single export earner and it would be absolutely disastrous for our country if we were to do anything that seriously damages this vital industry."Sharon Bird should stand up for the coal-mining jobs in her electorate because the more we hear about this tax, the more obvious it is that it won't clean up the environment - it will clean out your wallet and it will wipe out jobs big time."Ms Bird rejected suggestions that a carbon tax would lead to job losses in the Illawarra, pledging full support to the Government's cause."This is a continuation of Tony Abbott's scare-mongering among communities with claims that are not based on the facts," she said. "We do have to take action on climate change and we are working to get a scheme that provides action on climate change and protects job in areas like mines."Mining officials yesterday said they could not sustain carbon mitigation measures if the industry was forced to pay a carbon tax.On Wednesday, Climate Change Minister Greg Combet ruled fugitive emissions from coal mines must be included in the tax, as they accounted for almost half of Australia's projected growth in emissions over the next nine years.Mr Abbott rejected the findings of a Productivity Commission report released yesterday, which found Australia would not be alone if it was to introduce a price on carbon.