FIFO in the Bowen Basin is under fire with Nebo businesswoman, Kerri Furber, well on her way to collecting 5000 signatures in a petition destined for the desk of Premier Campbell Newman.
At the time of writing, over 1000 people had already signed the petition calling for BHP Mitsubishi Alliance’s 100% fly-in, fly-out workforce decision to be reversed.
Speaking to the Mackay Mercury, Ms Furber said she started the petition last Friday after “returning to work following a few months break and realising how bad the situation had become.”
“It was getting quiet leading up to Christmas, but it’s very noticeable now,” Ms Furber said.
The 100% FIFO workforce and the effect it is having had been a hot topic, Ms Furber said, but a petition hadn’t been organised.
“I thought ‘I’m going to do it’,” she said. “I put it online and I thought we need to get it out there to let the Government know that it’s hurting.
“We’re not being greedy, we don’t want 100% of the jobs. Although that would be good. But even with the chance of a 50-50 (FIFO to locals ratio), there’s a lot of skilled people out there that have been here for years.”
She said the 100% FIFO ruling affected all small mining towns including Clermont, Dysart and Moranbah.
To sign the petition, visit http://www.change.org/en-AU/petitions/campbell-newman-reverse-decision-on-100-f-i-f-o-in-the-bowen-basin
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