A federal inquiry team studying the effects of the ‘fly in fly out’ workforce is moving around regions that are affected by this mining practice. The inquiry is being conducted by the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Regional Australia to see exactly how the mobile workforce impacts the local community.
There have been protests by locals against the ‘fly in fly’ out workforce. People like Mr Bob Katter, the leader of the startup Katter’s Australian Party have said that this issue was destroying the social and economic fabric of small mining communities. He added that permission to mine should not be issued to those who intend to bring people in from overseas.
The team is to meet in Moranbah in Queensland, an area in the central highlands which has experienced the resources boom first hand. There the committee will hear from several groups who wish to raise their concerns. Amongst them are the Dysart Community Association and Moranbah Medical which are concerned about the doctor patient ratio of 1: 2,750.
As per Kelly Vea Vea, who is running for Mayor at Isaac, crippling rents and unaffordable housing is what forced the ‘fly in fly out’ practice. This in turn brought about mega workers' camp structures, population imbalance and mining companies steamrolling community concern, she added.
Ms Vea Vea said that if they were going to make the most of this boom as a region, they could not afford to allow companies like BHP to steamroll the ‘livability’ of their communities with mega FIFO worker camp developments, as this increases pressure on local infrastructure and services.
Mayor John Molony said that if the mining companies were intending to stay in any area for a significant period they should train and use local workers. He added that with the lack of training and skills in Australia, it was a wonderful opportunity right at this moment for the federal and state governments, to assist mining companies with adult apprenticeships and get some real training into people.