QUEENSLAND'S resources sector is working with the Queensland Government in support of the COVID-19 three-day lockdown announced by the Premier today. 

Queensland Resources Council (QRC) chief executive Ian Macfarlane said the resources sector remained committed to keeping its workers, their families and those Queenslanders living in mining regions safe. 

The resources sector is managing the impact on production as companies cease fly-in-fly-out (FIFO) movements out of Greater Brisbane to regional Queensland during the lockdown. As well, resource companies are ensuring their regional worksites operate under strict COVID-safe plans and are isolating workers who have travelled from Greater Brisbane since January 2 from the local community they work in.

"FIFO workers already on site will be allowed to travel to and from work under strict COVID protocols, which have previously proven to be very effective,” Mr Macfarlane said.

“Those Greater Brisbane based workers who have been in the areas identified as being visited by the diagnosed person since 2 January are being immediately tested and isolated until the test results are confirmed.”

The decision by companies to cease FIFO from Greater Brisbane during the three-day lockdown is also in response to concerns from regional centres regarding Brisbane-based workers travelling to those areas during the lockdown period, and as an added precaution, the sector will also resume health checks prior to FIFO workers boarding flights from Brisbane airport to regional centres. 

“QRC has re-confirmed that the resources sector retains its status as an essential industry during the lockdown and the protocols used for workers in previous hotspot declarations will be followed,” Mr Macfarlane said. 

“We will stay in close contact with the government and make any necessary changes required to these protocols. 

“The QRC has asked all workers to immediately operate at a heightened level of COVID awareness, particularly social distancing, hand hygiene and ceasing all non-essential social contact or group gatherings. 

“The resources sector is essential to Queensland’s economy and has demonstrated its resilience these past nine months to keep the lights on, people in work, and the money flowing.

“You can count on us to keep Queenslanders safe and our economy ticking over.” 

More information can be found on the Queensland Government website.

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CARAVAN Industry Association of Australia has applauded the Federal Government for its announcement this morningof a $6million extension to the Bass Strait Passenger Vehicle Equalisation Scheme (BSPVES), making it free for passengers to bring their car on the Spirit of Tasmania from March to June 2021.

Those travelling with a caravan or motorhome will also receive the average $240 return saving for their vehicle. The 2020 year has not been kind to business operators in Tasmania, and the summer season continues to be a disappointment for many.  Recent occupancy numbers have shown that caravanning and camping is underperforming all other states in the country at a time when caravan parks should be overflowing, with forward bookings also soft.

“Across Australia we continue to witness a V-shaped recovery in the caravan and camping sector, however Bass Strait has continued to put Tasmanian operators at a disadvantage in what is a very competitive domestic tourism market,” said Stuart Lamont, CEO of Caravan Industry Association of Australia.

Mr Lamont said, "This announcement could not have come soon enough, and while the Tasmanian Tourism Voucher Schemewas great to encourage locals to travel, there is only so much we can rely on the local market to keep Tassie caravan parks open.” 

Making access cheaper for passengers coming from the mainland will be an incredible incentive and will go a long way to kick-starting the recovery of the sector in Tasmania while supporting many regional communities right across the state, he said.

www.caravanindustry.com.au

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“We know that those arriving via the Spirit of Tasmania stay longer, spend more and disperse further than other visitors to the state, so it is vitally important to stimulate this portion of the travelling public, and to recoup some of the cancellations incurred due to border restrictions throughout 2020.” Mr Lamont continued. 

NEW SOUTH WALES Treasurer Dominic Perrottet's move to outsource Treasury work to KPMG is a waste of money and resources, according to the Public Service Association (PSA).

A report in The Sydney Morning Herald this morning revealed the Treasurer would pay consultancy firm KPMG $5.5 million to reform the state's stamp duty scheme.

“Once again the NSW Government is only happy to waste millions of taxpayer dollars on consultants when the expertise already exists in NSW Treasury many times over," PSA general secretary Stewart Little said.

Taxpayers could be paying as much as $4000 a day for this work, under the government's own procurement policy. The lowest rate for an analyst is $1200 a day.

"When the NSW Government froze the wages of public sector workers in 2020 they were told that everyone was tightening their belts. Treasurer Perrottet promised the government would go on a hiring spree - it seems he was only thinking of consultants.

"NSW has the best and brightest policymakers in the country. From those working around the clock in NSW Health, to the Service NSW and Treasury officials who've made sure people across the state get the support they need," Mr Little said.

"The level of expertise isn't easily matched, and they're ready to do the work but instead vital functions of the government are being outsourced to consultants at exorbitant rates. The Treasurer needs to do the maths again, because this doesn't add up."

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THE International Maritime Organisation (IMO) passed several resolutions in December 2020, specifically addressing the need for seafarers, and other marine personnel, to be designated as key workers.

Australia is a notable omission from the cohort of 45 IMO member states who have already determined seafarers to be key workers.

International Transport Workers Federation president and Maritime Union of Australia national secretary Paddy Crumlin said, “Australia must act immediately to align itself with international efforts, led by organisations like the IMO and ITF, to designate seafarers as key workers providing an essential service, and facilitate the safe and unhindered movement of seafarers for embarking and disembarking a vessel, accessing shore leave, and when necessary, access to shore-based medical treatment.

“While the COVID-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc on the health of people and communities across the world, the outlook for seafarers becomes increasingly more desperate by the day.

“The despair of this crisis cannot be understated. Over 400,000 seafarers internationally are held captive on their ships, and an equal number are prevented from travelling to relieve these desperate workers due to the global and national inconsistencies in travel restrictions. 

“Australian seafarers are effectively locked out of jurisdictions where they are engaged in transport operations domestically, and the interconnection of global and national trade.

“It is vital that attention be paid to Australia’s reliance on essential workers in the maritime transport chain to maintain the continuous supply of essential goods that Australian communities rely on and that the Morrison Government act immediately to address the failed policy settings which continue to exacerbate this crisis for Australian and international seafarers.”

The IMO circular regarding the designation of seafarers as key workers is available here.

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