Published: 25 Aug 2017
The CFMEU Mining and Energy Division has welcomed the Queensland Parliament’s passage of new laws that ban 100% FIFO workers on major mining and resource projects in Queensland.
The outcome is the culmination of the CFMEU’s five-year long campaign to prevent mining and resource companies from discriminating against local workers in regional Queensland.
“This a big win for regional Queensland communities. It ends discrimination against locals by big mining companies,” said Mitch Hughes, Senior CFMEU Mining and Energy District Vice-President
“Since BHP escalated the exclusive use of FIFO workers in Central Queensland five years ago, the CFMEU has not stopped campaigning for a fair go for local communities.
“It now ends the ludicrous situation where locals were denied permanent jobs at mines on their doorsteps, forcing some to fly hundreds of kilometres to Brisbane or Cairns then fly back in again to live alone in a camp just minutes away from their homes and families.
“This Bill now bans 100% FIFO and ends discrimination against locals on all future mining and resource projects in Queensland.
“And it means workers at the two existing mines with compulsory 100% FIFO arrangements – Daunia and Caval Ridge – will have a choice about whether or not they want to live locally or continue to fly in, fly out.
“The Palaszczuk Government should be congratulated for finally putting right this unfair situation which was crippling local communities.
“We also congratulate and thank Central Queensland Labor MP and Chair of the Inquiry, Jim Pearce, for his work in bringing about this outcome,” said Mitch Hughes.
At the last QLD election, the CFMEU campaigned heavily to restore fairness to local communities for jobs in local mining and energy projects.
The union secured the support of over 20 candidates to signing up to a Fair Go charter opposing 100% FIFO. The majority of those were elected.
This resulted in the incoming Palaszczuk Government setting up a Parliamentary Inquiry into the issue, and the CFMEU organised numerous community forums around the Inquiry.
The legislation will ensure that where there is a local community, they will no longer be locked out of jobs.