“There needs to be a mix and we want to support smaller towns,” Newman added in the tweet on Wednesday.
According to the Australian Mining website, Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union Queensland district president Steve Smyth welcomed this view on fly-in, fly-out workforces.
“We’ve always been against both 100% compulsory FIFO or 100% compulsory community hiring, as we believe workers should have a choice,” he reportedly said.
“We want Mr Newman to now stick to his word and get BHP to lift its ban on locals applying for new jobs at its Daunia and Caval Ridge mine and provide the current workforce the opportunity to live locally if they choose.”
A BHP spokeswoman defended the decision to use a FIFO workforce for the two mines, which are operated by the BHP Mitsubishi Alliance joint venture.
“BMA made a careful and considered decision to operate its newest mines, Caval Ridge and Daunia, with remote workforce arrangements for a range of reasons, including the ability to source a diverse workforce and to share the economic benefits of employment in the mining industry more broadly across Queensland,” she said.
BMA’s Red Hill mine plans to further sustain mining activities at its existing Goonyella Riverside and Broadmeadow longwall operations have also received negative FIFO-related press attention.
“Whilst the company currently has no plans to proceed with the Red Hill mine component of the environmental impact statement [process] it remains an important future option for BMA,” the spokeswoman said.
“The workforce required for the sustaining mining activities associated with Goonyella Riverside and Broadmeadow mines would be residential.
“The Red Hill mine option of the EIS proposes an up to 100% remote [FIFO] workforce for both construction and operations.
“As stated in the Red Hill mining lease EIS the final workforce arrangements for the Goonyella Riverside mine incremental expansion and the Red Hill mine underground expansion option will be finalised once the project scope and timing has been committed to by the owners.
“We will continue to work with local communities to find solutions to continue to build local sustainability. We have made an important contribution over many years.”
ICN is seeking further comment from CFMEU on the FIFO matters raised.
Isaac Regional Council Mayor Anne Baker told the Daily Mercury in June that BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance’s stance had affected coal towns in the region.
"Forced 100% FIFO practices have heavily impacted our communities,” she reportedly said.
“Our local workers and their families are unable to apply for jobs on their doorstep.”
