Media Release
Newman Government backbenchers who claim to be opposed to 100% fly-in fly-out workforces at Bowen Basin mines showed their true colours in State Parliament when they voted against an Opposition Motion to end the practice, says Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk.
“LNP MPs Jason Costigan (Whitsunday), Vaughan Johnson (Gregory) and Ted Malone (Mirani), have been outspoken in their electorates against FIFO. Mr Johnson even went as far as describing 100% FIFO as 100% evil,” she said.
“But when the crunch came in Parliament on Tuesday evening they voted to continue the unjustified discrimination that is ruining mining communities like Moranbah and Collinsville.
“I can only conclude that their previous outspoken criticism of 100% FIFO was a sham attempt to hoodwink people in their local electorates. When they had the chance to strike a blow for freedom of choice for Queensland workers, they lacked the backbone to stand up for their constituents.
“People who live in mining communities are sick and tired of the broken promises, weasel words and mixed messages emanating from the LNP.
“They were told before the last election by Campbell Newman that if he became Premier he would not tolerate 100% FIFO agreements, but in power the LNP has not honoured that vow.
“On Tuesday evening the Opposition gave regional MPs a chance to stand up for their communities; a chance to vote for a motion calling for an end to 100% fly-in fly-out operations.
“The Opposition has clearly stated its policy to end once and for all the divisive practice which allows mining companies to exclude job applications from local residents.
“The Opposition’s policy is not against fly-in fly-out resources jobs per se, as the Newman Government suggests.
“It is not going to cost anyone who might live in Brisbane or Cairns, but who flies to work at a Bowen Basin mine, their job. But it is a policy that will compel mining companies to consider local workers when filling vacancies.
“It will mean that people who live in places like the Capricorn Coast, Rockhampton, Mackay, Moranbah or Emerald won’t have to move to either Brisbane or Cairns to get a mining job in the Bowen Basin.
“It is a matter of fairness and common sense but MPs like Bruce Young (Keppel) and Rosemary Menkens (Burdekin) let their communities down yet again.
“It should be remembered that ending 100% FIFO agreements was a pre-election pledge from Campbell Newman and the LNP. It is yet another broken promise from a government that has trashed a sackful of them.
“A new Labor Government will review within 100 days of taking office all existing 100% FIFO agreements and where a mine is close to a regional centre or mining community, the employer will be obliged to consider all applicants, no matter where they live.
“We know this would help to address the serious problems now being experienced by towns where FIFO staff live in camps and make little or no contribution to the sustainability of the community.
“It would also stop the ridiculous circumstances in which workers who reside within easy commuting distance of a mine are forced to uproot their families, attempt to sell their homes and move 1000 kilometres or more to Brisbane or Cairns to stand any chance of getting a job at that mine.
“In voting down the Opposition motion the LNP has made it plain that only a Labor Government will end this unjustifiable discrimination and restore the fundamental right for Queensland workers to choose where they live.
“People who live in Queensland’s mining regions will not be conned again.”
The following is from a news report in the Courier Mail published on July 19 2011 and refers to a pre-election promise he made during a tour of the Bowen Basin coalfields.
Mr Newman said that if the LNP was elected it would categorically rule out a 100 per cent fly-in fly-out workforce for any mine.
"It's not acceptable to us," he told AAP.
"We understand that fly-in fly-out has its place as a component of and the answer of providing the workforce ... but a 100 per cent fly-in fly-out is just simply something we would not tolerate if we get into government.
"That's our rule, our policy, it won't be tolerated."
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