❓ Hon. Charles Smith questions the government's strategy to prioritize WA locals for mining jobs amidst concerns of companies seeking cheaper labour from overseas. The government outlines initiatives to support local training and employment.
AnsweredQoN 1023Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
RESOURCES SECTOR —
WORKFORCE
1023. Hon CHARLES SMITH to the Minister for Education and
Training:
I refer to the recent article in The
Australian Financial Review titled ''Mining employment returns to
boom-time footing'', which states —
An
imminent return to boom-time employment levels in the Australian mining sector
is likely to accelerate labour cost inflation �
In the face of mining companies
obviously calling for cheap labour, how will the government ensure that Western
Australian locals are trained and employed ahead of multinational companies
picking workers from a global pool of labour who are willing to work for less?
WORKFORCE
1023. Hon CHARLES SMITH to the Minister for Education and
Training:
I refer to the recent article in The
Australian Financial Review titled ''Mining employment returns to
boom-time footing'', which states —
An
imminent return to boom-time employment levels in the Australian mining sector
is likely to accelerate labour cost inflation �
In the face of mining companies
obviously calling for cheap labour, how will the government ensure that Western
Australian locals are trained and employed ahead of multinational companies
picking workers from a global pool of labour who are willing to work for less?
AnswerView source ↗
On
behalf of the Minister for Education and Training, I thank the honourable
member for some notice of the question.
The minister does not accept the
premise that mining companies are calling for cheap labour. The state
government has a strong focus on increasing
employment and training opportunities for Western Australians and has
implemented a range of initiatives to
support this, including: reducing the cost burden for eligible employers taking
on apprentices and trainees through the introduction of a new Jobs and
Skills WA employer incentive scheme; ensuring the resources sector is
contributing to the Building and Construction Industry Training Fund levy for
engineering construction work so that all industries carrying out building and
construction are contributing to the training of the state's
construction workforce; introducing the Priority Start policy; rolling out TAFE
Jobs and Skills Centres; freezing TAFE fees; signing the Pilbara Collaboration
Charter between the state government and the resources industry to deliver
social and economic benefits to the Pilbara region, including developing new
pathways to jobs; and supporting new partnerships with industry, such as
Australia's first automation qualifications developed through a collaboration
between Rio Tinto and South Metropolitan TAFE.
behalf of the Minister for Education and Training, I thank the honourable
member for some notice of the question.
The minister does not accept the
premise that mining companies are calling for cheap labour. The state
government has a strong focus on increasing
employment and training opportunities for Western Australians and has
implemented a range of initiatives to
support this, including: reducing the cost burden for eligible employers taking
on apprentices and trainees through the introduction of a new Jobs and
Skills WA employer incentive scheme; ensuring the resources sector is
contributing to the Building and Construction Industry Training Fund levy for
engineering construction work so that all industries carrying out building and
construction are contributing to the training of the state's
construction workforce; introducing the Priority Start policy; rolling out TAFE
Jobs and Skills Centres; freezing TAFE fees; signing the Pilbara Collaboration
Charter between the state government and the resources industry to deliver
social and economic benefits to the Pilbara region, including developing new
pathways to jobs; and supporting new partnerships with industry, such as
Australia's first automation qualifications developed through a collaboration
between Rio Tinto and South Metropolitan TAFE.
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