22 March 2013
THE national resource industry employers group, AREEA, acknowledges the Hon. Martin Ferguson and the Hon. Chris Bowen after both parliamentarians resigned from their respective ministerial positions today.
AREEA (Australian Mines and Metals Association) chief executive Steve Knott paid tribute to Mr Ferguson’s dedication to the Energy and Resources portfolio.
“AREEA and its members have held Martin Ferguson in very high regard both in the role of Minister and Shadow Minister for Energy and Resources,” Mr Knott says.
“He has demonstrated a strong understanding of practical issues in the resource industry and has been extremely consultative on important policy developments.
“We also pay tribute to Mr Ferguson’s willingness to engage with energy policy and often difficult considerations including providing advice on challenging workplace relations issues in our sector.
“As an insightful statesman of the Labor Party, we hope the government takes on-board Mr Ferguson’s parting advice in which he called for an end to the class warfare that began with the mining tax.”
AREEA also paid tribute to Chris Bowen who, as former Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, was very supportive of the resource industry’s people capability requirements.
“Like Martin Ferguson, Chris Bowen was a rare parliamentarian who put the challenges and needs of Australian employers before party politics. He was highly regarded by resource industry employers,” Mr Knott says.
“Not many in government have understood that the responsible use of 457 Visas, and sound short-term policies like Enterprise Migration Agreements for mega resource sector projects, would help create enormous long-term economic benefits for both the nation and its citizens.
“In short, from a resource sector perspective, there was considerable gap between Ministers Bowen and Ferguson’s knowledge of what was required to support our sectors success, and that of other members of the current government. They will both be sorely missed.
“AREEA thanks them both for their outstanding contributions and wish them well in their future endeavours.”
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