Representatives and community members from Blackwater, Mackay, Dysart and Moranbah will march on Queensland Parliament to send a message to the state government that it’s time to stand up for local permanent jobs and regional communities, Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union Queensland district president Steve Smyth said.
Mineworkers and their families in Central Queensland towns such as Blackwater were anxious about their futures, he said.
“With the growing casualisation of the mining workforce and the continuation of 100 per cent compulsory fly-in, fly out workforces at two large BHP mines in the Bowen Basin, people are understandably nervous about their jobs and livelihoods,” Smyth said.
“Communities like Blackwater have been hard hit by job losses and the contracting out of good, permanent local jobs, and unless strong action is taken by the Queensland government against big companies like BHP, communities will be all but destroyed.”
BHP is removing permanent jobs in Blackwater in favour of insecure contract work, while continuing to lock out local mineworkers from the opportunity to even apply for a job at their new Daunia and Caval Ridge mines, he said.
A BHP Billiton spokesperson told ICN that the BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance is seeking a separate Enterprise Agreement to cover its Blackwater mine which has lower quality coal products which receive lower prices.
“This places the mine under even greater financial pressure. Blackwater mine is also geographically distinct from the remaining mines covered by the current agreement,” the spokesperson said.
Smyth said it’s time for the government to step up, show leadership and take strong action “before entire communities disappear”
“Local people in regional Queensland are seriously concerned about their futures and more must be done to ensure our local people and their kids will have access to work in the local area in the future,” he said.
“If business as usual continues, we could see many vibrant, tight-knit Queensland communities disappear off the map.”
