The Commonwealth Government’s recently-released National Resources Statement focuses on developing skills and workforce capabilities as one of five key actions critical to the industry’s future success.

Australian Resources and Energy Group AREEA welcomes the particular focus on ‘people’ areas in the statement – the first of its kind in more than 20 years.

“A strategic, nationally-coordinated approach to skills and workforce development is crucial to ensuring a diverse pool of people can access the incredible opportunities available in the resources and energy industry,” AREEA Acting Chief Executive, Tara Diamond, said.

“The Statement acknowledges the sector’s changing future skills needs driven by automation, robotics and artificial intelligence. Most importantly, it characterises this change as an opportunity that needs to be worked through and fully realised, not a threat to the role people play in the industry.

“This acknowledgement was one of the key messages of AREEA’s recent publication A New Horizon: Guiding Principles for the Future of Work, which explains why future work opportunities will be realised through skills collaboration, not through protectionism or heavy-handed regulation.

“It is pleasing the Statement puts the spotlight on the significant contribution made by the sector to Australia’s prosperity and recognises how our nation can benefit from developing and maintaining a diverse workforce with the right skills for the future of work.”

While welcoming the five key priorities of the National Resources Statement, AREEA highlighted a notable omission is the critical role a “future focused” workplace relations system will play in the ongoing prosperity of the resources and energy industry.

“It is impossible to seriously talk about the jobs and skills of the future without engaging in a meaningful conversation about workplace relations reform,” Ms Diamond said.

Labor’s plan for mining industry

Only hours prior to the official release of the National Resources Statement, the Australian Labor Party released its “Future Mines and Jobs Plan”.

The plan includes the establishment of an Australian Future Mines Centre, to co-ordinate exploration work and lead the scientific research and development necessary to explore under deep cover.

AREEA welcomed positive elements of the plan, but noted it was out-of-step with the party’s lack of clear support for new projects including the Adani Carmichael Coal Project.

“We welcome the ALP’s commitment to establish an Australian Future Mines Centre to guide ongoing industry development. There is some irony, however, that the ALP at the federal and state level is simultaneously unable to publicly support the Adani Carmichael Mine – a major new project ready to create thousands of jobs and deliver huge economic benefits to Australia,” Ms Diamond said.

“Frankly, there is little point in the ALP publicly declaring a zest to discover new mineral reserves when it won’t support those already identified and committed to by investors.

“Our political leaders should not be playing favourites with Australia’s extraordinarily diverse commodity reserves, particularly when coal is now our most valuable commodity export and directly employs 50,000 Australians.”

The Association of Mining and Exploration Companies (AMEC) also welcomed the plan and highlighted the importance of discovering new mines across the country.

“Mineral exploration is the lifeblood of the mining industry, and increasing exploration will lead to longer mine lives and future mines,” said Warren Pearce, Chief Executive Officer, Association of Mining and Exploration Companies (AMEC).

The plan will also aim to help deliver the mining jobs of the future, with $2 million to provide 100 scholarships to arrest the dramatic decline in mining engineering degree commencements.