MMG has defended its work hiring practices at Dugald River saying it was proud of its contributions to the region and to Queensland.
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Last week state member Robbie Katter named Dugald River in parliament as one of at least two mines in the North West breaching the spirit of the government's anti 100% FIFO law.
MMG told the North West Star Dugald River was only in its second year of operation and was committed to developing, attracting and retaining a localised workforce and to growing the participation of local workers in the operation over time.
"During a successful ramp-up of operations, Dugald River worked with key stakeholders including the Cloncurry Shire Council and the Kalkadoon People to sustainably improve our number of local employees," an MMG spokesperson said.
"To continue to support capability development in the region, we launched a local trainees and apprentices program to begin in June. All 10 candidates participating in the program will be from Cloncurry and Mount Isa and many of the new appointees are from the Kalkadoon region."
MMG said they provided opportunities for local residents and for people to relocate locally, where roles and skills allow.
"We welcome the support of state and local members and their initiatives to assist in developing and attracting skilled workforces to the region," they said.
Queensland introduced the 100% ban on FIFO near towns such as Mount Isa and Cloncurry in 2018 (the Strong and Sustainable Resource Communities Act) with the support of the KAP but now Robbie Katter says the bill is not strong enough.
Speaking on North West Star's Live Facebook Elevenses on Monday Mr Katter confirmed he would be tabling amendments to the law.
"In hindsight I should have put amendments up (when the law was introduced), which probably wouldn't have got up but I still should have done what I'm intending to do now," Mr Katter said.
"I thought let's see how this plays out but where I got pretty cranky was with Dugald River, a new mine that's opened..it's pathetic the primary workforce there."
Mr Katter disputed claims from mines they cannot find locals to take jobs.
"I had two qualified people with mining experience pull me up in the street saying they can't get a job at Dugald River so I don't buy that argument," he said.
"Sure we can't give them 90% (workforce), we might give them 50 but they can certainly do better.
"They can come up with a million excuses, the reality is we are not coming up with people doing the jobs."
Mr Katter said if the region was not getting the royalties or local business benefit then "what do we want the mines here at all if we are not getting the jobs?"
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Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
