GREATER efforts by Australia’s policy makers to modernise the nation’s workplace relations system is critical to supporting the future of work in the resources and energy industry, AREEA has told a Senate Inquiry into future work considerations.

AREEA’s submission to the Senate Select Committee on the Future of Work and Workers notes two broad trends are defining the future of work in resources and energy: the rapid development of new technologies, and increasing desires of many Australians for flexible, non-traditional work opportunities.

“The uptake of new technologies is creating a demographic shift in the skills and expertise required in the resources and energy industry,” explains AREEA director industry services, Tara Diamond.

“Remote Operating Centres, for example, are centralising operational and technical expertise in CBD hubs, with direct connectivity to remote mine sites where fewer personnel remain on the ground.

“Further, automation technologies are removing humans from the front line in the resources extraction process, resulting in enormous improvements in safety, productivity and efficiency.

“This trend requires government responses on many levels, including policies to support regional economies and communities through this transition, further government support towards innovation research and development, and training for the new skills and expertise required by Australian workers to operate and maintain such technologies.”

AREEA recommendations: Supporting Technological Innovation

1. Investigate how the Australian Government can ease the impact on regional economies from having less resources and energy industry employees permanently based in regional communities, and respond accordingly.
2. Review the Australian Government’s funding and other support mechanisms for ‘future of work’ skills particularly in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
3. Review the current funding model and effectiveness of METS Ignited and other ‘new technology’ training and development initiatives to ensure the future skills demands of industry are being supported.
4. Commit further government support for research and development on new innovative technologies, as well as training for the associated skills and expertise, required to keep Australia’s resources and energy industry globally competitive.

AREEA’s submission also details how the desires of new generations of Australian workers for flexible employment opportunities is similarly shaping the future of work.

“The resources and energy industry is very diverse and traditionally has involved many different modes of work, but technological advancements are seeing the industry even further able to modernise and meet the evolving needs of the modern day Australian,” Ms Diamond says.

“Flexibility is highly valued and sought after by workers of all ages. Individuals are demanding greater choice and flexibility in the world of work and it’s important that any policy response from government encourages and facilities this.”

AREEA recommendations: Flexibility and the Future of Work

1. Ensure any future government approaches to “future of work” matters seek to encourage and support the greater flexibility that modern day Australian workers are seeking.
2. Provide a greater range of options in employment arrangements that enable business to achieve productivity gains associated with working outside traditional rigid employment arrangements.

AREEA further submitted to the Committee a strong case for urgent workplace relations reform, noting nothing had been done with the recommendations for change arising from the Productivity Commission’s comprehensive 2015 inquiry into Australia’s workplace system.

“It is absolutely critical that the Parliament considers how regulatory reform can better support the future of work and workers in Australia,” Ms Diamond said.

“The evidence is clear that Australia’s workplace system is overregulated, over-complex and better suited to the technologies, working patterns and societal demands of the 1970s than 2018 and beyond.

“We urge the Committee to re-examine the recommendations of the Productivity Commission for improving Australia’s workplace relations system.

“Our national policy makers need urgently to consider and address the rigidity and complexity of our workplace relations system, and seek to remove the significant red tape and regulatory burdens that are impacting on business growth and thus future employment opportunities.”

AREEA recommendations: Australia’s Workplace System – Removing the Barriers

1. Implement the vast bulk of improvements to Australia’s workplace relations system recommended by the Productivity Commission following its comprehensive 2015 review.
2. Abolish Australia’s awards system – the only one of its kind in the world – in favour of a simpler, clearer and more standard/appropriate safety net of minimum terms and conditions of employment in Australia.
3. Expand agreement making options to facilitate the making of employment arrangements, both individual and collective, directly between workers and employers.
4. Modernise Australia’s workplace relations system, including through targeted de-regulation and increased flexible work options, to ensure it is adaptive to increasingly diverse forms of employment arising from current and future work trends.

See AREEA’s submission for a list of our recommendations on improving Australia’s workplace relations system and better supporting the future of work.

AREEA will continue to pursue future of work considerations in ongoing advocacy efforts and would like to thank members for their input and support of our submission.