NATIONAL resource industry employer group, AREEA, is urging the Palaszczuk government not to risk jeopardising future resource investment in Queensland through any punitive or short-sighted over-regulation of Fly-In-Fly-Out (FIFO) work.
AREEA’s call comes at the state government considers recommendations from a review panel examining the impact of FIFO work on local communities, and ahead of a further report on FIFO work expected for release this week.
“The review panel’s recommendations are under-considered and raise more questions than they answer,” says AREEA executive director, policy and public affairs, Scott Barklamb.
“They would impose a range of new reporting requirements and penalties on resource companies and those who do business with them, precisely when Queensland is under growing pressure as a viable destination for future global resource investment.
“In addition to imposing new compliance costs, liabilities and delays, the proposed new regulations bear little relation to how resource operations work in practice, and would be ineffective in supporting the development of local communities. Whilst it is welcome that changes would operate prospectively, the regulation would pose real risks for Queensland.”
With the recommendations likely to drag the industry down with additional layers of bureaucracy, Mr Barklamb says it is difficult to escape the conclusion that the review panel has put the creation of jobs for public servants ahead of the creation of jobs in the resource industry.
“FIFO work in Queensland is already in decline. The last thing an industry struggling with a massive downturn, and struggling to keep people in work, needs is the imposition of speculative and superfluous new regulation and new penalties,” he says.
“The Palaszczuk government was elected with a commitment to a substantial social and economic program. Any new regulation that would endanger job creating investment, and make operating in Queensland more costly, inflexible, or risky can only threaten what can be achieved for the entire Queensland community.
“The key to addressing any concerns with FIFO work is cooperation and engagement with industry, not more regulation. We urge the government to properly consult with industry before attempting to give effect of any recommendations that would change access to FIFO work.”
The FIFO Review Report is the first of two reports on FIFO, with the Queensland Parliament’s Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources Committee to also report on FIFO work on 9 October 2015.
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