Statement by Steve Knott, Chief Executive of the Australian Resources & Energy Employer Association:
AREEA thanks and congratulates Skills and Training Minister Brendan O’Connor for his more than two decades of service.
Across 23 years in federal parliament, Mr O’Connor has been hard-working, consultative and respectful in a variety of ministerial and shadow ministerial roles.
Despite at times disagreeing with AREEA on policy, he has been consistently open to engaging with the Association about the needs of the resources and energy industry as part of supporting this key section of the Australian economy.
This support was on show in Melbourne earlier in the week during an address at the launch of a significant report into the decline of Australia’s maritime workforce – involving training and education barriers for aspiring seafarers.
Mr O’Connor joined AREEA, energy company INPEX and leading maritime employer organisations and unions to discuss possible solutions.
AREEA values Mr O’Connor’s contributions to public life and wishes him well in the future.