A PLAN to end 100 per cent fly-in, fly-out practices at mines near regional Queensland communities has been lauded by Mount Isa Mayor Tony McGrady.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Queensland Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk said if the Labor government was elected it would end blanket FIFO practices for major resource projects near regional communities by giving choice to workers.
Announcing Labor’s Strong and Sustainable Resource Communities policy this week, Ms Palaszczuk said she wanted to strengthen local communities by maximising employment opportunities.
“My commitment to Queenslanders that live in mining communities is that under the next Labor government, 100 per cent FIFO proposals will not be approved and we will review all existing 100 per cent FIFO approvals within the first 100 days of office,” she said.
Cr McGrady said the announcement echoed the policy advocated by the Mount Isa City Council and was the theme of the FIFO workshop he convened in the city soon after his election.
“The Premier has also stated that his government does not support 100 per cent FIFO operations and this announcement by the leader of the State Opposition is joy to the ears of those mining communities who have been suffering as a result of FIFO operations,” Cr McGrady said.
“I would hope that this issue, which now has bipartisan support, will soon be implemented after the state election and as such mining communities such as ours must not give up the battle but ‘maintain the rage’ until that policy is part of state legislation.”
Cr McGrady said the practice of 100 per cent FIFO destroyed communities.
“The City Council have been pressing for an advocate in state government who along with other state government departments will make recommendations as to the conditions imposed on miners at the time that the mining lease is being issued.”
Cr McGrady said he believed that not all FIFO operations should be halted so the practice could be utilised in the more remote parts of the state and when specialist workers were required.
But he said the council believed any mine proposed near a population centre should include conditions within the mining lease insisting employers recruit a workforce from the local area or that employees live in that area provided accommodation was available.
Cr McGrady said the implementation of the federal government inquiry by the former Labor government was the start of a national debate on the issue, in which he and the deputy mayor attended and gave evidence.
