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2011

20 December 2011

RESOURCE INDUSTRY WELCOMES SHORTEN’S IR REVIEW

On behalf of the Australian resource industry, AMMA Chief Executive Steve Knott has welcomed the details of the Federal Government’s Fair Work Act review, saying it presents a ‘great opportunity to ensure Australia has effective and productive workplace laws’.

16 December 2011

SALIVA-ONLY DRUG TESTS TO GREATLY INCREASE MINE SAFETY RISK

Safe Work Australia and the National Mine Safety Framework (NMSF) must abandon proposals that would impede mining employers from administering the onsite drug and alcohol tests that best suit their enterprises, resource industry employer group AMMA has said.

12 December 2011

RESOURCE INDUSTRY WELCOMES NEW CABINET
The resource industry’s peak employer group is calling on the new Federal Government Cabinet to elevate the issues within Australia’s industrial relations framework to the highest priority.

Read more...

29 November 2011

ABCC TAKES SENSIBLE APPROACH TO SHAM CONTRACTING
The Australian Building & Construction Commission’s (ABCC) final report on sham contracting demonstrates a sound approach to the issues and incorporates key recommendations put forward by resource industry employer group AMMA.

Read more…

24 November 2011

ACTU CAMPAIGN ‘DESPERATE ATTEMPT’TO RETAIN STATUS QUO
The ACTU’s latest calls for changes to the Fair Work Act is a ‘desperate attempt’ to retain the excessive bargaining powers granted to unions under the current laws and divert attention away from positive industrial reform, AMMA chief executive Steve Knott said today.

23 November 2011

ABOLITION OF THE ABCC AN ECONOCMIC DISASTER

The proposed abolition of the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC) being debated in parliament this morning would prove a devastating blow to one of Australia’s most critical economic drivers, the building and construction industry, according to resource industry employer group AMMA.

9 November 2011

AUSTRALIAN WOMEN IN RESOURCES ALLIANCE (AWRA) LAUNCHED

An elaborate industry initiative working to increase female participation in the resources workforce has been launched at the AMMA West Coast Conference today.

8 November 2011

AMMA’S POSITION ON INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS REVIEW

This morning the Federal Government Minister for Workplace Relations Chris Evans was quoted in the media calling for a review into the nation’s workplace bargaining rules and powers of the Fair Work Act.

8 November 2011

COMMON SENSE PREVAILS IN FAIR WORK DECISION

Fair Work Australia’s appeal decision to not recognise a union official as an individual bargaining representative is a rare victory for common sense and employers in every sector of the national economy.

4 November 2011

ECONOMY WINS IN 457 VISA SPONSORSHIP REFORMS
A significant revision to the 457 Visa program is a major win for Australian workplaces, with businesses granted more efficiencies around the sponsored skilled migration scheme including faster processing times, according to resource industry employer group AMMA.

19 October 2011
SOARING LABOUR SHORTAGE THREATENS TO CRIPPLE RESOURCE PROJECTS

As recent labour market research shows Australia’s $427 billion worth of resource projects will struggle to survive the crippling labour and skills shortage, resource industry employer group AMMA says only a united front from all tiers of government can alleviate the imminent threat to many prospective workplaces.

14 October 2011

‘TRANSPARENCY AND INCLUSIVENESS’ KEY TO RESTORING FAITH IN FAIR WORK AUSTRALIA

A stream of ex-union appointments to the Fair Work Act Tribunal and broken policy promises has eroded employers’ confidence in Australia’s industrial umpire, according to resource industry employer group AMMA Chief Executive, Steve Knott.

6 October 2011
MINERS LAUNCH OWN JOBS CENTRE AS LABOUR DEMAND SPIRALS
Ahead of the Federal Government’s national jobs forum, resource industry employer group AMMA has activated Australia’s first industry-operated online jobs and careers portal, miningoilandgasjobs.com, to connect Australians with job opportunities in the mining boom.

19 September 2011

INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIP TO ADDRESS CRITICAL MINING SKILLS SHORTAGE

Resource industry employer group AMMA has welcomed the Federal Government’s announcement of several Critical Skills Investment industry partnerships designed to ease critical skills shortages on resource projects.

08 September 2011

MINING CRITICS SHOULD ADDRESS THE HARD FACTS

An Australia Institute report downplaying the importance of the mining sector to the national economy is riddled with errors and flies in the face of commonsense and known facts, according to resource industry employer group AMMA.

06 September 2011

TSUNAMI OF CONSENSUS BUILDING FOR IR CHANGE

Resource Industry Employer Group AMMA has been joined by other leading employer groups in calling for much-needed reforms to Australia’s IR laws, confirming these problems are widespread and far deeper than is being acknowledged by the Federal Government.

02 September 2011

REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT KEY FACTOR IN FIFO DEBATE

Stronger policy decisions to support and co-ordinate regional development could ease community concerns around ‘fly-in, fly-out’ (FIFO) workforces, according to resource industry employer group AMMA.

19 July 2011

RESOURCE INDUSTRY EMPLOYERS’ MIGRATION ISSUES TO BE AIRED

The concerns of resource industry employers over access to the skilled migration scheme will be put to both sides of politics at an industry forum in Perth later today.

30 June 2011

CRITICAL SKILLS TRAINING + WOMEN + EMAS = REDUCTION IN SKILLS SHORTAGE FOR MINERS

Resource industry employer group, AMMA, has recommended the triple combination of allowing more miners to access enterprise migration agreements, increasing critical skills training for Australians, and actively targeting more women for resource industry jobs as part of the solution to alleviate the skills shortage in the industry.

30 June 2011

FAIR FOR WHO? RHETORIC -V- REALITY OF THE FAIR WORK ACT

With July 1 marking the second anniversary of the full introduction of the Federal Government’s Fair Work Act [FW Act], the confidence of resource industry employers in the new IR system is in a state of continuous decline.

24 June 2011

DO YOU WANT "FRIES" ERR "FEES" WITH THAT?

Resource industry employer group, AMMA, today warned the nine out of ten private sector workers who choose not to belong to a union, now face the prospect of being forced to share their meal break with union officials as a consequence of a decision handed down on union access to meal rooms by Fair Work Australia.

01 June 2011

DECISION CLEARS WAY FOR MINORITY TO MAKE MAXIMUM DISRUPTION

Resource industry employer group AMMA today expressed disappointment at a decision handed down today by Fair Work Australia.

27 May 2011

RESOURCE INDUSTRY TAKING INDIGENOUS CAPACITY TO THE NEXT LEVEL

A meeting of resource industry employers on the Gold Coast today will be challenged to consider investing in privately operated schools where Government run schools are failing to produce the required results in rural and remote locations.

26 May 2011

GOVERNMENT URGED TO CONSIDER POLICY FOR SUPER SAVERS, NOT SUPER SPENDERS

With wage levels in the nation’s resource industry currently nearly double the national average, the Federal Government finds itself in the unique position of having both resource industry employers and unions considering the merits of making policy changes to allow greater savings by workers in the industry.

26 May 2011

RESOURCE EMPLOYERS SHOULD NOT LOSE SIGHT OF PRODUCTIVITY GOALS

A senior resource industry leader today warned in a meeting of the sector’s employers not to lose sight of the importance of productivity in their labour arrangements.

26 May 2011

RESOURCE INDUSTRY EMPLOYERS SEEK FACTS ON “BIG AUSTRALIA” DEBATE

Noted demographer and social commentator, Bernard Salt, will be addressing a meeting of resource industry employers on the Gold Coast today to discuss the issue of “a big Australia”.

26 May 2011

NO PORTS AFFECT IMPORTS AND EXPORTS

At a time when the national economy is reliant on the resource industry to underpin growth and key assumptions of the Federal Budget, resource industry employer group AMMA, is encouraging the Government and Fair Work Australia to take into consideration the substantial economic impacts of a series of rolling industrial disruptions affecting the nation’s waterfront.

24 May 2011

UNION AND INDUSTRY LEADERS DEBATE FAIR WORK LAWS

Resource industry company executives and leading union movement figures will meet on the Gold Coast this week to debate and discuss their views on a range of issues including the country’s workplace laws, skilled migration and employment.

24 May 2011

FAIR WORK FLAWS SEE MUA RE-CYCLE DAMAGING INDUSTRIAL TACTICS

Resource industry employers today expressed their concerns over the outbreak of industrial action occurring on the nation’s waterfront.

11 May 2011

RESOURCE EMPLOYERS SAY SKILLED MIGRANTS VALUED, NOT SECOND-CLASS

Resource industry employers are urging the Federal Labor Government to stand firm in the face of demands from both The Greens and the union movement opposed to increasing the level of skilled migration announced in the Federal Budget last night.

18 April 2011

SHAM CONTRACTING POWERS SHOULD BE USED WISELY, SAYS AMMA

With the Australian Building & Construction Commission’s round table discussions as part of its inquiry into sham contracting coming to an end, the industry regulator should be wary of recommending extra compliance burdens be placed on already heavily regulated businesses unless there is evidence it is warranted.

AMMA’s Submission to the ABCC inquiry: Sham arrangements and the use of labour hire in the building and construction industry – read more…

15 April 2011

RESOURCE EMPLOYERS CALL FOR ALL HANDS ON DECK

Recent confirmation the Federal Government is considering the announcement of a significant reform package to the skilled migration scheme in the forthcoming Federal Budget has been keenly welcomed by resource industry employers across the nation.

29 March 2011

WEST AUSTRALIAN RESOURCE EMPLOYERS TARGET MIGRATION LAWS

Resource industry employers are meeting in Perth today to discuss workplace policy and skills issues affecting the industry.

29 March 2011

SOUTH AUSTRALIAN RESOURCE INDUSTRY EMPLOYERS TO DISCUSS IR CHALLENGES

Resource industry employers are meeting in Adelaide today to discuss the Federal Government’s Paid Parental Leave Scheme and a number of recent Fair Work Australia and Federal Court decisions.

25 March 2011

TASMANIAN RESOURCE EMPLOYERS RAISE SKILLS SHORTAGE CONCERNS

Resource industry employers are meeting in Queenstown today to discuss workplace policy and skills issues affecting the industry.

23 March 2011

QUEENSLAND RESOURCE EMPLOYERS CALL FOR SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO OVERSEAS WORKER PROCESSING AND IR LAWS

Resource industry employers met yesterday in Brisbane to discuss workforce issues emerging across the industry in the face of Queensland’s disaster recovery effort.

18 March 2011

NORTH QUEENSLAND RESOURCE EMPLOYERS CALL FOR SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO OVERSEAS WORKER PROCESSING AND IR LAWS

North Queensland resource industry employers are meeting in Townsville today to discuss recent workforce issues emerging across the industry in the face of Queensland’s disaster recovery effort.

15 March 2011

SKILLS STRATEGY CRITICAL TO FUTURE GROWTH OF RESOURCE INDUSTRY

Today’s release of the Federal Government’s response to the National Resources Sector Employment Taskforce Paper, ‘Resourcing the Future’, has been welcomed by resource industry employer group AMMA.

9 March 2011

AMMA APPEALS FWA ‘STRIKE FIRST, ASK QUESTIONS LATER’ DECISION

Resource industry employer group AMMA, has today lodged an appeal in an ongoing dispute about a decision that has allowed a union to pursue strike activity at a worksite, despite not having the majority support of workers.

3 February 2011

RESOURCE EMPLOYERS RECORD ESCALATION IN UNION ENTRY

Over fifty per cent of Australian resource industry employers have recorded increased concerns over union entry requests into their businesses according to a recent business survey.

2 February 2011

CONFIDENCE IN FAIR WORK ACT FALLS FOR RESOURCE EMPLOYERS

The workplace relations environment facing Australia’s resource industry has become substantially more difficult according to a recent survey of employers.

7 January 2011

RESOURCE INDUSTRY EMPLOYERS CALL FOR KEY CHANGES TO 457 VISA SYSTEM

The nation’s resource industry employers are today calling for key changes to the 457 temporary skilled migration visa system in a submission to the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship.

2010

23 December 2010

FAIR WORK ACT IN NEED OF URGENT OVERHAUL

In the wake of a Full Bench majority decision handed down by Fair Work Australia today (December 23), resource industry employer group, AMMA has called on the Federal Government to urgently review its federal IR legislation to avert the ‘strike first, commence bargaining later’ approach the tribunal has endorsed.

7 December 2010

FAIR WORK LAWS EXPOSE RESOURCE SECTOR TO INCREASED STRIKE ACTIVITY

Resource Industry Employer Group, AMMA has today intervened in an appeal before Fair Work Australia in a case which has the potential to expose the sector to significant levels of increased strike activity in the coming months.

22 November 2010

EMPLOYERS WELCOME PROPOSED PARENTAL LEAVE OVERHAUL

Amendments being introduced into the Senate today, which overcome unnecessary costs for business as a consequence of the introduction of the Federal Government’s paid parental leave (PPL) scheme, have won support from resource industry employers.

29 October 2010

TAKING THE FIGHT AGAINST PROSTATE CANCER DOWN THE MINES: AMMA

Peak resource industry employer group, AMMA is today playing its part in launching an innovative campaign to take the message about prostate cancer directly to workers across the resource industry.

28 October 2010

STALEMATE TALKS AN OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE SAFETY BILL: AMMA

While the stalemate between the NSW State Government and Federal Government continues over new national Work Health and Safety laws, resource industry employers are exploring some more controversial aspects of the proposed legislation with a view to calling for key changes.

22 October 2010

RESOURCE INDUSTRY FORUM PUTS SPOTLIGHT ON INDIGENOUS EMPLOYMENT

Australia’s first Indigenous Member of the House of Representatives, Mr Ken Wyatt MP, will address resource industry employers in Perth today who are meeting to discuss the latest strategies used, and trends experienced in, both training and securing the employment of indigenous Australians.

6 October 2010

EMPLOYERS WARNED: PREPARE FOR PARENTAL LEAVE NOW

A meeting of human resource professionals in Brisbane will today be told they need to be prepared for elements the new paid parental leave scheme to come into play as early as this month.

29 September 2010

EMPLOYERS WELCOME FIRST IMPORTANT STEP IN RETAINING BUILDING REGULATOR

Resource industry employers have welcomed the appointment of a new Commissioner to head the ABCC [Australian Building and Construction Commission], following the official end to Commissioner John Lloyd’s five-year tenure as head of the building industry watchdog.

22 September 2010

RESOURCE SECTOR RESPONSE TO MINISTER FERGUSON’SPROPOSAL TO INCREASE SUPER

Resource industry employer group, AMMA, has given its qualified support to Minister Ferguson’s calls for increased superannuation contributions, saying the concept has merit in certain areas within the resources industry.

11 August 2010

AMMA RATES THE MAJOR POLITICAL PARTIES ON IR

Despite the fact all political parties have tried to make their Industrial Relations policies a small target this election, the resource industry employer group AMMA has today released a comparison of their policies. AMMA has released an Industrial Relations Policy Scorecard, which rates the latest industrial relations policies of all three major political parties Labor, the Coalition and the Greens. The Coalition received the highest score, a total of 18 out of a possible 28, followed by Labor with 17 and the Greens with a dismal score of 8.

22 July 2010

EXPANDED UNION RIGHT OF ENTRY RILES RESOURCE INDUSTRY

One year since the Fair Work Act came into operation and some significant shortcomings of the current workplace relations regime are set to be discussed at a forum of resource industry employers in Melbourne this morning. The Australian Mines and Metals Association (AMMA) will host a meeting of Victoria’s leading resource and construction employers to discuss some of the latest issues confronting the sector under the Fair Work Act.

21 July 2010

RESOURCE SECTOR EMPLOYERS TO DISCUSS GROWING LIST OF UNION-SPECIFIC DEMANDS

The interim results of an AMMA/RMIT study into the impacts of Fair Work laws on the resource and construction sectors discussed at an Adelaide forum today have highlighted the need for an urgent review of the laws. One year on after the Fair Work Act came into full operation and resource industry employers are reporting a significant increase in the number of union-specific terms and conditions being added to the agreement making process.

Steve Knott, Chief Executive on the nation’s largest resource industry employers group, AMMA, said a recent survey of employers across the sector had found that of those employers who had commenced new agreement negotiations, 77.3 per cent had recorded unions pursuing clauses that

were prohibited under the previous workplace laws.

WEST AUSTRALIAN RESOURCE INDUSTRY EMPLOYERS CALL FOR CHANGES TO GREENFIELD AGREEMENTS UNDER FAIR WORK LAWS

One year since the Fair Work Act came into operation and some significant shortcomings of Labor’s new workplace relations regime are set to be discussed at a forum of resource industry employers in Perth this morning. Chief Executive of the nation’s largest resource industry employers group, AMMA, Mr Steve Knott, said a recent survey of employers in the sector had raised significant concerns over the ability of employers to get Greenfield agreements off the ground for major projects under the new Fair Work regime. “At present the Fair Work Act does not provide any alternative for an employer to create a Greenfield Agreements where unions are holding up new projects.

28 June 2010

Cabinet Reshuffle: AMMA welcomes appointment of new Federal Workplace Relations Minister, Simon Crean.

With the elevation of Julia Gillard to the nation’s top job, the resource sector’s national employer group, AMMA has welcomed the appointment of Simon Crean as Federal Workplace Relations Minister.

27 May 2010

AMMA APPLAUDS 5 YEAR TENURE OF BUILDING INDUSTRY’S TOUGH COP

Australia’s leading resource industry employer group, AMMA, said it was disappointed to hear the Deputy Prime Minister would not be reappointing Australian Building and Construction Commissioner [ABCC], John Lloyd, to the role of ABCC Commissioner in September. AMMA Chief Executive, Steve Knott, said Mr Lloyd’s departure from the role of Commissioner would be a significant blow to the building and construction industry.

21 May 2010

INDUSTRY TEAMS UP WITH FOUNDATION TO TACKLE MALE CANCER MENACE

The male-dominated resources sector is being encouraged to be more proactive in tackling the issue of prostate cancer - with a leading national industry association joining with the Prostate Cancer Foundation this week to encourage the delivery of this message to mine sites across the country.

The Australian Mines and Metals Association [AMMA] announced their ongoing support and partnership with the Foundation at a Conference in Perth this week. AMMA Chief Executive, Steve Knott, said the initiative was designed to not only help raise awareness of the issue, but also help fund vital research into the disease.

20 May 2010

RESOURCES SECTOR EMPLOYERS TO MEET WITH NEWLY ELECTED ACTU BOSS

The newly elected head of the Australian Council of Trade Unions, Ged Kearney, shall be attending a meeting of resource sector employers in Perth today. Australia Mines and Metals Association [AMMA] Chief Executive, Steve Knott, said he hoped the meeting with Ms Kearney would be a constructive first-step in relations with the President-elect of the ACTU.

20 May 2010

MODERN WORKPLACES NEED MODERN WORKPLACE LAWS

Resources sector employers from across the nation have today called on both sides of the political divide to modernize the nation’s existing workplace laws to better reflect the needs of the sector.

30 April 2010

MINING INDUSTRY ON TOP WHEN IT COMES TO WORKERS’ PAID LEAVE ENTITLEMENTS

The mining industry leads the way in ensuring their employees have access to paid leave according to the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics report. AMMA Chief Executive, Steve Knott, said the increase in the number of workers in the resources sector with paid leave entitlements was a consequence of employers within the sector taking every possible step to both recruit and retain their highly valued employees.

31 March 2010

DPM’s ‘No-Nonsense’ Approach to Illegal Strikes Welcomed

Steve Knott, Chief Executive of the country’s peak employer group for the resource and energy sector, the Australian Mines and Metals Association (AMMA) said it was encouraging to see the Deputy Prime Minister respond to growing industry concerns about the escalation in disruptive strike activity being experienced in recent months.

23 February 2010

PUBLIC RELEASE OF ir ELECTION POLICIES A PRIORITY

The Industrial Relations policies the Federal Government and Opposition plan to take to the next Federal election should be released now according to the nation's resources and energy sectors leading employer organisation. Chief Executive of the Australian Mines and Metals Association, Steve Knott, has today called on both the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, and Opposition Leader, Tony Abbott, to engage in debate and discussion with the Australian public over the future direction of issues in Australian workplaces.

19 February 2010

AUSTRALIAN STRIKES UNDERMINE ASIAN BOARDROOM CONFIDENCE

Today's revelation that Mr Yoshifumi Nakata, Nippon Steel's Australian boss, had said he was "afraid and very concerned" about the escalation of industrial action in Australia's resource and energy sector has been described as a "sobering wake up call" by the sectors leading employer organisation … Chief Executive, Steve Knott, said it was imperative the Government heed this wake up call and review the legislative framework so as to ensure sufficient measures were in place to stop damaging industrial and union activity that was not in the national interest.

8 February 2010

RESOURCES AND ENERGY SECTOR WELCOMES SKILLED VISA REVAMP

The resources and energy sector’s peak employer body, AMMA, today welcomed moves to focus on attracting more highly skilled workers into Australia.

AMMA Chief Executive, Steve Knott, said there was currently a shortfall of skilled professional staff, mechanical and electrical engineering personnel, as well as a shortage of other skilled trades in the resource and energy sector.

2 February 2010

MUA AGREEMENT: COMPLY OR DIE

The so called 'agreement' in settlement of a three month dispute between the MUA and vessel operators in Australia's offshore oil and gas sector has created a worrying precedent according to AMMA, the national employers' organisation for the resources and energy sector.

27 January 2010

MUA THROWS TRUTH OVERBOARD

Comments made today by MUA Assistant National Secretary, Warren Smith, about the status of negotiations between the MUA and vessel operator Total Marine Services have been described as "a fabrication" by AMMA. AMMA Chief Executive, Steve Knott, said Mr Smith's allegations that the company had walked away from a pre-agreed position was patently false, and that Mr Smith was clearly fabricating the truth in an attempt to further damage relations between the company and its employees.

27 January 2010

MUA's CRUMLIN AND CAIN NEED TO COME CLEAN

It has been confirmed today the MUA will now be taking a further forty eight hours of strike activity against a vessel operator in the offshore oil and gas sector from Monday – in addition to a 48 hour round of strike activity due to commence this coming Friday. AMMA Chief Executive, Steve Knott said vessel operators in the oil and gas sector have been negotiating in good faith for over fourteen months now.

8 January 2010

FEDERAL CABINET BEING URGED TO READ

While a range of Federal Cabinet Minister’s appear to be tripping over themselves to get their hands on the latest literary offering of the Prime Minister, entitled Jasper and Abby and the Great Australia Day Kerfuffle, one of the nation’s peak resource and energy sector employer organisations is urging they read a far more weighty document.

7 January 2010

WEEK ONE AND MUA MAKING FAIR WORK A FALLACY

A decision by the MUA to proceed with a further round of disruptive strike activity in the oil and gas sector has highlighted the failings of the Federal Government's "Fair Work" regime in it's very first week of full operation according to a peak resource sector employer organisation.

2009

18 December 2009

DEPUTY PM MUST TERMINATE DISPUTE

The Deputy Prime Minister has been called on to intervene in an ongoing industrial dispute over a claim for up to 100% pay rise between a range of Australian vessel operators and the Maritime Union of Australia.

4 December 2009

MUA union bosses threatening livelihoods of thousands

Australia’s peak mining and resources employer body, AMMA, has revealed today union bosses in charge of the MUA are now recklessly forcing workers to go out on strike against more employers involved in the offshore oil and gas industry in Western Australia …AMMA Chief Executive Steve Knott said the latest strike activity, set to shut down offshore vessel operations for 48 hours at Total Marine Services from Friday, was a worrying development that had the potential to threaten the livelihoods of thousands of other hard working Australians and cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.

27 November 2009

MUA snap STRIKE RECKLESS AND HYPOCRITICAL – AMMA

The Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) has been accused of hypocrisy by the peak resources and energy association, AMMA following confirmation the MUA is now proceeding with a further round of strike action against a company operating in the offshore oil and gas sector this coming weekend.

19 November 2009

MINING AND RESOURCES EMPLOYERS SUPPORT NATIONAL SYSTEM

AMMA urges politicians of all political persuasions to sit down and ‘strike a deal’ on a final range of amendments needed to see the passage of legislation which would create a single national industrial relations scheme. AMMA’s Chief Executive Steve Knott said employers had been waiting for nearly a decade to see the passage of legislation which would eliminate artificial barriers between the states when it came to employment issues.

17 November 2009

MUA DESTROYS A DECADE OF HARMONY IN THE OIL AND GAS SECTOR

An urgent meeting of Fair Work Australia organised to head-off two days of potential strike action in the oil and gas sector has concluded with the MUA still intent on taking action for two days commencing on Tuesday - after nearly a decade of industrial harmony … AMMA Chief Executive, Steve Knott, described the MUA’s reluctance to take a sensible approach to negotiations “an immense disappointment to the company and a worrying precedent to the industry and the economy”.

13 November 2009

Maritime union launches industrial action in destructive grab for cash

The peak national employer body representing Australia’s resources and energy sector, the Australian

Mines and Metals Association (AMMA) has accused the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) of reckless

and destructive conduct following confirmation that it will take strike action in the offshore oil and gas

sector.

15 September 2009

Unions urged not to hold up safety reforms

A recent union advertising campaign opposing Australia’s move towards adopting

a uniform set of national occupational health and safety laws has drawn criticism

from the Australian Mines and Metals Association.

AMMA Chief Executive, Steve Knott, said the union sponsored radio campaign

was a clear attempt to only delay the much needed reform but also point the

finger of blame at the feet of employers.

31 August 2009

Watered down building laws fail to protect resource projects

AMMA’s chief executive Steve Knott has raised significant concerns about changes to the building regulator laws and watering down of the accompanying code at a time when the sector is managing billion dollar construction projects.

1 July 2009

A fair go should underpin Fair Work

AMMA’s chief executive Steve Knott says that the new Fair Work Australia regime should not be exploited by overzealous union activities which attempted to test out the new laws and test the powers of what unions can now get away with.

18 June 2009

Gillard’s award modernisation welcomed by the resources sector

AMMA has commended DPM Julia Gillard as being ‘a considered and driving force behind the much needed award modernisation process’.

‘The DPM gave AMMA and its members a pre-election commitment that our systems of work would not be altered via the award modernization process, and the Minister has honoured this commitment.'

17 June 2009

Compromise delivers Milli Vanilli version of building and construction watchdog

Proposed changes to Australia’s building industry watchdog, tabled in Parliament today, will replace the existing industry watchdog with a Milli Vanilli version according to the Australian Mines and Metals Association (AMMA).

AMMA CEO Steve Knott said the recent public argy-bargy being played out between the Rudd Government and the union movement had cleverly diverted attention away from the fact that the effectiveness and powers of the current building watchdog are to be significantly watered down.

3 April 2009

'Tough Cop on the Beat' disappears in Wilcox Recommendations on ABCC

AMMA's Chief Executive Steve Knott has warned that the recommendations handed down today in the long-awaited Wilcox Report will make a mockery out of the Rudd Government's pledge to keep a 'tough cop on the beat'.

20 March 2009

Resources Sector Braces For IR Fallout

The resources sector has slammed Australia’s new industrial relations system, describing it as the greatest increase in union power since Federation.

According to the Australian Mines and Metals Association (AMMA), which represents Australia’s blue chip mining, oil and gas companies, the new system is more about resuscitating an ailing union movement than saving jobs.

13 March 2009

Domestic Response Needed to Quell Job Losses

Australian Mines and Metals Association (AMMA), the national employers’ organisation for the resources sector, says that yesterday’s rising jobless statistics confirms that domestic policy responses must be urgently reassessed to take cost pressures off business.

10 March 2009

Resources Sector Welcomes Amendments

The peak national industry body representing Australia’s resources sector, the Australian Mines and Metals Association (AMMA), has welcomed the Opposition’s decision to oppose various union power grabs proposed by the Government; powers that were not part of the ALP’s pre-election policy.

AMMA Chief Executive Steve Knott said the extraordinary increase in union powers buried away in the Fair Work Bill was rightly being challenged by the Opposition and various non-government Senators.

14 January 2009

Senate holds the keys to restoring controls in the Fair Work Bill

The peak national employer body representing Australia’s resources sector, the Australian Mines and Metals Association (AMMA) has today recommended to the Senate a series of amendments to the Fair Work Bill that will address the sector’s concerns in relation to excessive union powers and the new bargaining framework, yet ensure Australian workers continue to have access to a proper safety net.

2008

19 December 2008

Win for Miners

The peak national employer body representing Australia’s resources sector, the Australian Mines and Metals Association (AMMA) has welcomed today’s release by the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC) of the modern mining industry award.

“Putting to one side our ongoing concerns about many aspects of the proposed Fair Work legislation, the mining industry modern award may indeed be a workable alternative to an AWA, albeit without protection from industrial action or entry to worksites from uninvited unions,” said AMMA Chief Executive Steve Knott.

10 December 2008

Resources Sector Calls on Government to Take off Its Blinkers and Remove Union Agenda from New IR System

The peak national employer body representing Australia’s resources sector, the Australian Mines and Metals Association (AMMA) has slammed the Government’s new IR system at a meeting of hundreds of Western Australian mining companies in Perth earlier today.

‘The Fair Work Bill introduced today is more about resuscitating an ailing union movement, not improving business conditions and job prospects for ordinary Australians’, said AMMA’s Chief Executive, Steve Knott.

14 November 2008

Deputy Prime Minister Gillard concedes AMMA's argument against 'drop dead' dates for old agreements

In an address to the ALLA Conference in Melbourne today, Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard has acknowledged AMMA's role in convincing her to abandon the idea of including a sunset date for old agreements in the new workplace relations legislation to be introduced into Parliament in December.

10 November 2008

Time for Senate to pass Safe Work legislation

The Safe Work Australia Bill 2008 will again be subject to Senate parliamentary review this week.

As with industrial relations legislation, removing OHS duplication and overlap and various inconsistencies between states remains vitally important.

‘Harmonisation of national OHS legislation will improve OHS outcomes in Australia, reduce the regulatory burden for business and enhance Australia’s productivity performance’, Mr Knott Chief Executive of the Australian Mines and Metals Association (AMMA) said today.

AMMA calls on the Senate to pass by the Safe Work Bill 2008 without further delay.

30 October 2008

“Drop dead date’ = A dirty bomb for the mining sector

In response to recent media speculation about Labor’s new IR system, Australia’s

mining, oil and gas industry has described any move by the Government towards the

unilateral termination of existing industrial agreements in workplaces as the

equivalent of a ‘dirty bomb’.

‘The unilateral termination of all existing agreements would force employers to

bargain all over again to retain existing flexibilities, and conversely could result in

employees falling back to minimum award wages well below previously agreed

rates’ said AMMA’s Director of Workplace Policy, Chris Platt.

16 October 2008

Major construction projects need IR investment certainty now.

‘The pantomime being played out by unions, ALP branches and Government backbenchers calling for the immediate scrapping of the ABCC is damaging investment confidence. The Government should bring this to an end now by confirming the ABCC will remain until 1 February 2010, but more importantly, it should advise that the existing powers and functions of the ABCC will be incorporated into the soon to be created specialist division of Fair Work Australia for a minimum of five years’, Mr Steve Knott, Chief Executive of the Australian Mines and Metals Association (AMMA) said today.

20 June 2008

AMMA welcomes AIRC decision giving priority to mining industry on award modernisation

The Australian Industrial Relations Commission’s (the Commission) decision to include mining on the priority list of industries for award modernisation has been welcomed by Australian Mines and Metals Association (AMMA).

‘The decision of the Commission recognises the significance of the resources sector to the Australian economy and will assist the industry to make an orderly transition to the new industrial relations system that will commence in January 2010’, Mr Steve Knott, Chief Executive of AMMA said today.

13 February 2008

Here we go again … Miners prepare for change as first stage of industrial relations reform begins

The Government’s Workplace Relations Amendment (Transition to Forward Fairness) Bill 2008 introduced by Deputy Prime Minister Gillard today reflects policy statements made by the ALP prior to 24 November 2007 federal election.

‘The Bill contains no surprises. Despite abolishing new AWAs, the resources sector is pleased that the Government has not succumbed to the demands of some unions to make more radical changes’, Mr Steve Knott Chief Executive of Australian Mines and Metals Association (AMMA) said today.

Read more …

2007

21 November 2007

Australian Mines and Metals Association Receives Workplace Innovator Award

The federal Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Joe Hockey, has presented the Australian Mines and Metals Association with an award as a Workplace Innovator for services to the resources sector and promotion of innovative agreement making through employee engagement. Chief Executive Steve Knott accepted the award on behalf of AMMA.

Read more …

7 November 2007

Resources Sector Welcomes Coalition Workplace Relations Policy Announcement

The Australian Mines and Metals Association has welcomed the workplace relations policy proposals announced today by Workplace Relations Minister Joe Hockey. In particular AMMA welcomes the proposal to retain the full range of agreement making options for employers and employees and provide employers with protections against wild cat and illegal industrial action organised by union militants.

Read more …

8 October 2007

Despite concessions, ALP IR policy continues to fail the resources sector

The Australian Mines and Metals Association re-examines its analysis of the ALP industrial relations policy in the light of the policy additions contained in the party’s Forward with Fairness Implementation Plan and finds that the ALP policy still comes up short in several key areas.

Read more …

17 September 2007

Employee Engagement – A lifetime of opportunity

The Australian Mines and Metals Association (AMMA) has today released a study of employee engagement within the resource sector titled Employee Engagement – A lifetime of opportunity. The report advocates the retention of the existing industrial relations framework (and in particular AWAs) and encourages employers to work with their employees to improve engagement levels and business outcomes.

29 August 2007

ALP wrong on union right of entry

Labor’s Industrial relations plans released yesterday will give unions access to all Australian worksites to recruit non-union members.

Australian Mines and Metals Association Chief Executive Steve Knott stated ‘If you abolish AWAs the existing union right of entry system that excludes unions from right of entry to AWA sites goes out the window.

28 August 2007

ALP’s IR Policy announcement continues to be anti business

Today’s IR announcement from the ALP still represents an anti business, transition to the past approach to industrial relations.

AMMA Chief Executive, Steve Knott today stated “It is not in the national interest to abolish the current workplace relations system to one that belongs to a bygone era.”

25 July 2007

ABCC is Essential for Mining Industry Success

The Australian Mines and Metals Association (AMMA) today welcomed the release of a study commissioned by the Australian Building and Construction Commission into the economic impact of the ABCC’s role in the construction industry. AMMA particularly welcomed the report’s finding that the BCII and the ABCC framework could not operate effectively in the absence of the Workplace Relations Amendment (WorkChoices) Act 2005.

11 July 2007

Resources Sector Analysis of Coalition and ALP Workplace Relations Policies

With the prospect of a significant change to the workplace relations environment due to the upcoming federal election, Australian Mines and Metals Association (AMMA) has undertaken a detailed analysis of the workplace relations policies of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and the Coalition. This document is called An Analysis of Coalition and ALP Workplace Relations Policies and applies a rating between zero and four to each workplace relations policy position of the ALP and the Coalition. The lower the score the less the policy meets the needs of the resources sector.

5 July 2007

Rudd, Gillard and CFMEU Get AWA Statistics Wrong Again

In its bid to deny Australian mining sector employers and employees the right to enter into statutory individual contracts the ALP seeks to justify its position by pointing to outdated and unreliable statistics about the number of mining AWAs.

The Australian Mines and Metals Association (AMMA) believes that in the debate over AWAs in the mining industry, the ALP continues to miss the point.

2 July 2007

Less Industrial Action is no Accident

The Australian Mines and Metals Association (AMMA), Australia’s only national employer association serving the resource sector and allied industries, today released a research paper titled Constructing Lawful Workplaces. The paper highlights that Australia’s reduced rates of industrial action are due to long term industrial changes which have made parties responsible for their actions.

5 June 2007

ACTU damaging Australia’s international business reputation

‘Sharan Burrow’s attempt to impugn Australia’s international business reputation

for political purposes is reprehensible’ Mr. Steve Knott Chief Executive of

Australian Mines and Metals Association (AMMA) said today.

15 May 2007

ACTU wrong again, AMMA sets record straight

In the fight to restore privileges to union bosses, Greg Combet (ACTU Secretary - ALP Candidate) has today accused the resources industry of undermining worker collective bargaining and union membership rights. 'Nothing could be further from the truth, Mr Combet’s comments are just plain wrong', Mr Steve Knott, Chief Executive of Australian Mines and Metals Association (AMMA), said today.

24 April 2007

Policy Scorecard to Assist Industry in Evaluating IR Policies

The Australian Mines and Metals Association (AMMA) has today released the AMMA Workplace Relations Policy Scorecard, which uses criteria divided into seven broad policy areas to ‘score’ how well the workplace relations policies of the differing parties vying for government in the upcoming federal election meet the needs and expectations of the resources sector.

Read more……

3 April 2007

The Figures Are Clear: Hard Rock Mining Union Membership Less Than 1 in 6

The Australian Mines and Metals Association (AMMA) believes the Australian Bureau of Statistics report released today (Employee Earnings, Benefits and Trade Union Membership (August 2006)) highlights the need for Australia to have a modern industrial relations system that contains a full range of agreement making options, this includes collective non union agreements and AWAs.

Read more……

30 March 2007

AMMA AWA paper to be delivered to 2007 IRSA national conference

AMMA, Australia’s national resource sector employer association, has released a paper delivered to the Industrial Relations Society of Australia’s 2007 National Conference by AMMA’s General Manager Workplace Policy, Christopher Platt, reiterating the resources sector’s call for the ALP Industrial Relation policy to provide a complete range of agreement making options including statutory individual contracts.

Read more……

22 March 2007

AWAs: A Major Matter for Miners

AMMA, Australia’s national resource sector employer association, has today released a review of Australian Workplace Agreements in the resources sector aptly titled, “AWAs – A Major Matter for Miners”. The paper was been released at AMMA’s 2007 National Conference, being held at the Perth Convention Exhibition Centre on 22 and 23 March.

Read more……

22 March 2007

Political IR Debate to Heat up at Mining Conference

The 2007 AMMA National Conference is being held at the Perth Exhibition Convention Centre on 22 and 23 March and will undoubtedly be this year’s most important event for employee relations within Australia’s resources sector.

2006

29 June 2006

Beazley is wrong on common law contracts

‘The comment by Opposition Leader Kim Beazley on the ABC’s AM program this morning that AWAs can easily be replaced by common law contracts is wrong’, Mr Steve Knott, Chief Executive of Australian Mines and Metals Association, said today.

22 June 2006

AMMA Urges ALP to rethink opposition to AWAs

Australia’s national employer association for the resource and allied industries, the Australian Mines and Metals Association (AMMA) has called on the federal ALP to rethink their opposition to Australian Workplace Agreements (AWAs).

22 June 2006

The Independent Contractors Bill, a Step Forward for the Protection of Contractors Rights

The Australian Mines and Metals Association (AMMA), Australia’s key national employer representative in the resources and allied industries believes the Independent Contractors Legislation introduced to parliament today is a key step forward in the protection of the rights of contractors in the workforce.

29 May 2006

POLITICS ASIDE HEALTH AND SAFETY IN MINING REMAINS TOP PRIORITY

Recent media comments by the ALP and various union representatives claiming that Australia’s new workplace laws will compromise the Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) of employees in the mining industry and other industry sectors are untrue.

“Such comments are an unnecessary political distraction from the main focus of improving Australia’s OH&S performance,” Mr Steve Knott, Chief Executive Australian Mines and Metals Association (AMMA) said today.

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