QUEENSLAND’S resource employers are deeply concerned at the Palaszczuk government’s plans to impose punitive over-regulation on fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) work in regional Queensland, with moves to retrospectively change FIFO rules for existing projects particularly risky for the state’s future investment prospects.

AREEA executive director, policy and public affairs, Scott Barklamb, says the industry is disappointed that the Queensland government has accepted ‘misguided recommendations’ arising from the state’s committee inquiry into FIFO work in regional Queensland.

“Given this inquiry has its origins in the hiring strategies of just a couple of Bowen Basin mines, the government’s plans to over-regulate the wider industry is a vast overreaction,” Mr Barklamb says.

“The planned legislation risks blanketing the entire sector with punitive new regulatory measures that increase the risk of investing and employing in Queensland and will not improve outcomes for local jobseekers, FIFO employees or local communities.

“Altering current FIFO work arrangements for existing projects is an especially bad idea. It sends a signal to future resource sector investors that arrangements with the Queensland Government can be changed at a whim and cannot be treated as solid foundations for commercial decision making.”

The resource industry recognises the challenges of staffing its operations throughout Queensland, the unique challenges of FIFO work, and the need to engage with local communities. Employers make considerable efforts in addressing these concerns in a sensible and balanced way.

“AREEA was hoping to engage in a well-considered debate about the ongoing use of FIFO in Queensland and how future working arrangements could best deliver jobs and opportunities for regional communities,” Mr Barklamb continues.

“However the government is instead seeking to interfere with various company decisions such as apprenticeship and trainee numbers, local procurement strategies, how workforces should be accommodated and other unnecessary intrusions into commercial considerations.

“We hope future Queensland Government inquiries into the state’s resources sector will better examine how fit-for-purpose, properly consulted and sustainable working arrangements can provide an attractive platform for new project investment and deliver jobs and income to regional areas.”

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