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Volume 10, Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Ca$h for Cathy Locals band together again to help raise nearly $13,000. Turn to Page 10
Government to respond to FIFO report
By Millie Thomas inister for Regional Australia Simon Crean announced last week the Government will be responding to the House of Representatives Standing Committee review on FIFO/DIDO practices in Australia.
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The review was conducted over 18 months and was released in February this year, outlining the need to invest more research into the fly in-fly–out/drive-in, drive-out practice, which is seen to often have detrimental effects on many aspects of the transient life of a FIFO/ DIDO worker and the communities involved. It also took into consideration effects made on fly–in communities (where the work is pro-
duced), and fly-out communities (where the worker resides), families and relationships. At a National Women’s Conference in Canberra last week, Mr Crean stated he was aware of the report, and that it was important to look at FIFO in two aspects. “One is the build of the infrastructure where, in my view, it can only effectively be done if you fly people in because there's no long-term ability, as distinct from the operation of the facilities once built, as is true particularly of the mining sector. So there will be a permanent workforce,” he said. “What I think we've got to plan better for is the type of community that they're going to be living in that permanence, because it - that can't be serviced, in my view, in a sustainable way by just the fly-in fly-out solution.”
Federal MP Rowan Ramsey (Liberal, Grey) said there are a number of issues that need to be addressed as the practice continues to grow. He acknowledged the vast array of circumstances surrounding various mines, namely their longevity and location. “There are a few like Roxby Downs that are purpose built towns, but there are many others that operate in agricultural areas, that are close to centres,” Mr Ramsey explained. “In that case I think that it’s high time that we looked back and re-examined zoning taxation policies for instance.” Mr Ramsey also said the report identified added costs to FIFO that are met by society, rather than the employer. “We know there are very high rates of marriage break ups or partnership break ups. We
know that some of the mental health stresses are higher,” he said. “Just generally, having people working and living nearby, so they can get home at night, actually leads to a far better outcome on a lot of fronts.” The Government should look at incentives to grow communities in long term mines, in Mr Ramsey’s opinion, so they become more than just in the old terminology ‘single men’s towns’. “It’s a matter of balance,” he said. “Nothing is ever going to be perfect, and no one side is going to fit all. There’s just no simple answer, but you hope that you can put together a raft of different things that will achieve a reasonable outcome where it’s possible.”
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