Queensland Government moves to deliver choice for resource communities workers

Queensland Government moves to deliver choice for resource communities workers

The future of Queensland’s regional mining communities is looking brighter following the introduction into State Parliament today of new laws banning 100 per cent fly-in fly-out on new large resource projects.

The proposed laws deliver on the Palaszczuk Government election commitment to give locals the choice to work in nearby projects.

Minister for State Development and Minister for Natural Resources and Mines Dr Anthony Lynham today introduced to Parliament legislation that will:

• prevent 100 per cent FIFO operations in new large resource projects where nearby regional community has a capable workforce
• require large resource projects to consider locals for employment
• ensure competitive local businesses have the opportunity to win contracts and be part of the project’s supply chain and
• help protect resource worker health and wellbeing.

“It is only right that local workers get an opportunity to be considered for these jobs and are not discriminated against because they are local residents,” he told Parliament.

“They should be allowed to live in the local community if they so choose.”

The requirements will apply to all large resource projects 100 kilometres or less from a regional centre.

The independent Coordinator-General will be able to set, monitor and enforce the conditions on new large resource projects through their environmental impact statements, which will need to comprehensively assess social impacts.

The proposed laws will make it an offence to advertise positions in a way that prohibits residents from nearby regional communities from applying.

The proposed laws are part of the Government’s strong and sustainable resource communities policy framework that came out of a Parliamentary Committee inquiry into FIFO work practices in the resource sector.

ENDS

Media inquiries: Jan Martin 0439 341 314