The LGAQ‘s Manager of Infrastructure Economics and Regional Development Simone Talbot, and Principal Adviser of Resources and Regional Development Kirsten Pietzner this week appeared at the public hearing of a parliamentary committee inquiry into the Strong and Sustainable Resource Communities Bill.
The Bill, which is explained further here, prohibits 100 percent fly-in-fly-out (FIFO) workforces and aims to ensure communities situated close to large resource projects benefit from those projects and are not discriminated against in the recruitment process.
The Bill received 22 submissions in total ranging from local government, trade unions, industry, non-profits, private submitters and one submission from the Anti-Discrimination Commission Queensland.
Ms Talbot welcomed the Government’s move to prohibit 100 percent FIFO workforces but encouraged a more ambitious approach.
"We need to take the opportunity presented by this Bill to put adaptive management of social impacts at the heart of resources policy and legislation," she said.
"The failure of the current social impact management process becomes even more evident when you consider the cumulative effects of several projects operating in the same region at the same time."
In contrast, the Queensland Resources Council was concerned with the potential retrospective application of the anti-discrimination provisions, the requirement to legislate on social matters and increased regulatory burden.
"This Bill in its absolute form is far too prescriptive and impacts on the flexibility for companies and locals to manage their situation autonomously," said Ian Macfarlane, Chief Executive of the Queensland Resources Council.
Some government bodies and trade union representatives communicated the Bill did not go far enough in legislating against FIFO and stressed that the Bill should include a wider definition of nearby regional communities.
Chris Newman a Legal Officer for the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union said he had seen first hand the negative effects of FIFO workforces.
"I spoke to several people in the Dysart community. Everybody that I spoke to—everybody—knew somebody who was unemployed and was unable to get a job in that mine as a result of the advertising which was 100 per cent FIFO only out of Townsville."
The Bill was originally put forward in November 2016, by the Minister for State Development, natural Resources and Mines Anthony Lynham, where it was referred to the Planning and Natural Resources Committee.
The Committee must provide its report to the Legislative Assembly by 7 March 2017.
You can see a full archived broadcast of the hearing here.
You can see the full transcript of the hearing here.