The council of Queensland’s largest mining region is putting motions on the national agenda calling for action on concerns caused by fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) workforce practices.
Mayor Anne Baker said Isaac Regional Council is moving four key motions at the 2015 National General Assembly of Local Government (NGA) in Canberra.
“Council will continue to strongly advocate at national forums on behalf of regional communities so all Australian local governments can have the opportunity to understand, consider and support cases advanced by Council.
“These four motions highlight the urgent need to reform taxation, reduce duplication in planning and regulation, acknowledge cost-shifts due to non-resident workforces and implement a method to accurately measure non-residential workforces.”
The House Standing Committee on Regional Australia made 21 recommendations to the Federal Government in its ‘Cancer of the bush or salvation for our cities: fly in, fly out and drive in, drive out workforce practices in regional Australia’ report (Windsor Report).
Isaac Mayor Anne Baker said Council was very concerned on behalf of regional Australians that it appears the Federal Government has only fully agreed to two of 21 recommendations put forward in the national inquiry report.
“It’s extremely disappointing after all the hard work and input from regional Australians to see this report collect dust for more than two years and to eventuate to such a dismissive outcome.
“The inquiry has taken in 26 public hearings and 232 submissions over 17 months, there clearly is a well-documented, national impact here.
“Since the report was handed down, we’ve seen more than 7,000 state-wide job losses in the mining industry which have hollowed out our regional resource communities.
“The practice of introducing 100 percent non-resident workforces near existing regional communities, combined with falling coal prices, mining industry cost cutting measures and the completion of many growth and construction projects has had a significant negative impact in regional communities across Australia.
“The Windsor Report recommendations are designed to ensure that investment by mining industries in regional communities is balanced and fair.
“When inclusive workforce practices are reintroduced by mining companies operating near existing regional communities, regional Australia will be able to continue to be a positive and integral part of economic growth.”
Isaac Regional Council services a resident population of only 24,215 and a non-resident workforce of 11,085.
Mayor Baker said funding methodologies by State and Federal Governments fail to acknowledge the true costs for local governments associated with hosting a non-resident workforce.
“Examples of exacerbated costs include hastened deterioration of road infrastructure, increased waste storage requirements and impacts to essential services, including health, police and emergency services.”
