KEY insights into the future of mining at a national and global level will be presented by Australia’s national science agency – CSIRO –  at the International Mining and Resources Conference (IMARC 2014) in Melbourne next week (September 22-26).

CSIRO Chief Executive Megan Clark will provide IMARC delegates with a glimpse of mining in 2025 by describing the innovations, megatrends and technologies that will reshape the mining sector as part of an ‘incoming revolution’ (Tues 23 September).

The future of mining in Chile in the context of these global megatrends will be discussed at IMARC (Thursday 25 Sept) by Executive Director of CSIRO Chile Dr Orlando Jimenez.

CSIRO will release national citizen survey reports and data portals for Australia and Chile which will provide new insights into how the mining industry is perceived in each nation and what steps may be needed to sustain community support, acceptance and the ‘social licence to operate’ into the future (Tuesday 26 September).

IMARC participants will have the opportunity to hear from CSIRO’s Mineral Resources Flagship Director Jonathan Law about the key role of innovation in driving much-needed improvements in mining, mineral exploration and processing productivity.

Proving the point that ‘money does grow on trees’, CSIRO research geochemist Dr Mel Lintern will showcase the scientific method used to find gold in gum trees and now being applied for prospecting  in an area of Western Australian Mulga country the size of Greece. (Monday 22 September).

The trade exhibition at IMARC will include further information about a wide range of CSIRO productivity innovations and solutions across the value chain.

Highlights:

Gold in gum leaves and Mulga country – Dr Mel Lintern – Monday 22 September.
Attitudes to mining report release – Dr Kieren Moffat – Tuesday 23 September.
Innovation to drive productivity – Jonathan Law - Wednesday 24-Thursday 25 September.
Future of mining in Chile – Dr Orlando Jimenez - Thursday 25 September.

www.csiro.au

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IN a decision that has restored certainty to both Australian and non-Australian nationals working in the offshore resource industry, the Federal Court has today rejected a challenge by two maritime unions to the Commonwealth’s offshore skilled migration visa arrangements.

The MUA and AMOU’s unsuccessful legal challenge is the latest chapter of ongoing attempts by Australia’s maritime unions to gain control over offshore resources work that historically takes place outside the unions’ traditional coverage.

By targeting the very small proportion of non-Australian skilled workers who provide essential international technical expertise to local projects, the unions’ campaign has directly threatened thousands of Australian jobs created both directly and indirectly through flow-on effects.

“The Federal Court’s decision today is a sensible decision that has restored certainty to a critical part of Australia’s economy,” says Steve Knott, CEO of resource industry employer group AMMA (the Australian Mines and Metals Association - the resource industry’s employer group).

“The offshore resource sector uses a very small number of non-Australian specialists, but has created 70,000 jobs in Australia and injected $200 billion into our economy.

“This campaign is simply the maritime unions’ attempt to gain control over areas historically outside their legal reach and create a new source of membership revenue.

“It is well beyond time that some sensibility is restored in this area and Australia’s oil and gas operators can get on with creating jobs and economic value for our country.”

A separate challenge by a third maritime union, the AIMPE, was previously adjourned pending today’s decision. AMMA expects no material difference in the AIMPE’s case or the outcome.  

Background to this matter:

Today’s Federal Court decision is a significant development in a longstanding union campaign to have all offshore resources activities captured within Australia’s migration zone and thus within the reach of Australia’s workplace laws and union membership coverage.

The laws and regulations the unions are campaigning against have been in place in Australia since 1982 and are consistent with both international maritime law and resources work around the globe:

• No Australian jobs have ever been threatened by the longstanding work arrangements for offshore resources work taking place in waters deemed outside of Australia’s migration zone.
• The global vessel services originally targeted by the unions in this campaign use a small number of non-Australian specialist workers, and actually create many jobs for Australians.
• The small number of international specialist workers (mostly from Europe) travel globally and are paid in accordance with their national laws and with international maritime law.

While the former Labor government took the unprecedented action of amending the laws to appease the maritime unions’ demands, the Federal Court has now upheld the Coalition Government’s steps to restore certainty to Australia’s offshore resource industry.

www.amma.org.au

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VECCI Chief Executive Mark Stone said VECCI has consistently supported East West Link as it will create jobs and be a vital part of Victoria's transport network.

"Business confidence takes a hit when decisions made by government do not come to fruition," Mr Stone said.

"I will request a meeting with the Opposition Leader to better understand why they have changed their longstanding position on this project.

"There is overwhelming support for this project among Victoria's major business and motoring groups, including the RACV, and it is also supported by a number of key union organisations.

"It will be of great detriment to our state if it is abandoned."

For VECCI's full Taking Care of Business election agenda visit www.vecci.org.au/tcob

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VICTORIA's peak tourism body is calling on both major parties to commit to recommendations to grow tourism jobs in the state, as Melbourne Airport reports significant passenger growth for the past year.

Victoria Tourism Industry Council (VTIC) chief executive Dianne Smith said that with the appropriate policy, the tourism industry could create nearly 9,000 additional jobs for Victoria over the next two years.

Ms Smith’s comments come in the wake of Melbourne Airport reporting its total passenger numbers grew by 4 per cent during 2013/14 to 31 million passengers. International passengers increased by 9 per cent to 7.75 million; while domestic passengers grew by 2 per cent to 23.3 million.

"Both major parties must commit to our priorities if Victoria is to maximise the benefits of increased visitor numbers and drive further growth,” said Ms Smith.

VTIC recommendations include:

- Increase marketing efforts to attract more Asian visitors: targeted communications campaigns and funding to make Victoria’s key tourist attractions more appealing to this group are needed. 

- Commit funding to the expansion of the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre: the centre is currently turning away around 17% of booking requests due to lack of capacity, so this is vital to ensuring Melbourne retains the significant economic benefit from being Australia’s business events capital. 

"VTIC strongly supports the Airport Rail Link project for the benefit it will bring to guests coming to Victoria for both recreational and business purposes and we hope this project progresses as a priority,” said Ms Smith.

“We echo Melbourne Airport CEO Chris Woodruff’s sentiments on the need to secure better outcomes for international air service agreements for Melbourne. We must also remember that Melbourne Airport’s curfew-free status gives Victoria a distinct advantage over other states and we must ensure that this is preserved well into the future.

“The airport experience is often an international visitor’s first impression of Melbourne, if not Australia, so the major works and improvements that Melbourne Airport outlined in their Annual Stakeholder Report are a great investment for Victorian tourism and the visitor experience.”

For more information on VTIC’s recommendations please visit www.vtic.com.au.

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AUSTRALIA’S resource industry employer group, AMMA, welcomes Minister for Immigration Scott Morrison today flagging the government’s support for removing cumbersome and unnecessary bureaucracy from Australia’s valuable skilled migration programs.

“The resource industry’s use of skilled migration has declined in recent years, but where we do employ international specialists, their expertise and skills are often critical to safety, performance and supporting a large number of aligned Australian jobs,” says Steve Knott, AMMA chief executive.

“It is encouraging to have our Immigration Minister publicly acknowledge how skilled migration supports both economic growth and employment opportunities for the Australian workforce, after an unfortunate politicisation of the skilled migration debate under the previous government.

“The minister also reaffirmed what employer groups like AMMA have long maintained, which is that misuse of the 457 Visa system is isolated and there has certainly been no widespread rorting.”

Speaking at the National Press Club, Minister Morrison also voiced the government’s early support for some changes to the 457 Visa program recommended by its 457 Visa Integrity Review Panel.

Changes such as new processes to speed up skilled migration Labour Agreements for Australian businesses are in-line with AMMA’s recommendations to the Panel.

“We have seen major resource industry projects wait up to four years to secure a Labour Agreement to cover a small number of valuable and necessary international workers. The current negotiating process is extremely difficult and time-consuming,” Mr Knott says.

“This has a very real impact on job opportunities for Australians. Skilled overseas workers have never been used to replace Australian jobs, rather they complement the skills available here with new global expertise and support projects delivering great value to Australia’s economy.

“Skilled migrants support short-to-medium term skills shortages when Australians are unable to fill such roles. They pay tax from day one, and create local jobs.

“In 2013, the Reserve Bank estimated our industry directly and indirectly accounted for 1.1 million jobs in Australia. With 457 Visa applications in 2013 numbering just 1,340, skilled migration clearly provides a small, but important contribution to our industry’s wider employment opportunities.”

Other proposed changes include more practical and effective standards for English language testing to fix an array of existing problems. AMMA also supports the proposed reduction in market salary rate comparisons from $250,000 to $180,000 per annum.

“Clearly employers should not be burdened with onerous salary comparison requirements for high income earners being paid more than $180,000 per year,” Mr Knott says.

Despite a recommendation from the Review Panel, the Minister indicated the government did not support the complete removal of Labour Market Testing measures. With Edith Cowen University research showing it can cost employers up to $70,000 to sponsor a 457 Visa holder, AMMA has long argued such measures are completely unnecessary and cumbersome.

AMMA is next week (Tuesday 16th September) hosting its 2014 Skilled Migration Conference in the Perth CBD. This is a practitioner-based event open to resource employers.

www.amma.org.au

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VECCI Chief Executive Mark Stone writes > OFFICIAL estimates suggest the national unemployment rate among 15-24 year olds is now 13.8 per cent and around 288,000 young people are now looking for work across Australia.

In Victoria, the youth unemployment rate is similar to the national average, although rates are higher in some regional areas.

The true picture of youth unemployment is likely to be much worse, when we consider that the official unemployment data excludes many youngsters who do not participate in the labour market at all.  A lack of employment opportunities and success in applying for positions can leave many job hunters demotivated to the point where they drop out of the job search market altogether. 

Once lower participation rates are taken into account, the real level of youth unemployment is likely to be at least one to two percentage points higher than the official estimates.

These are not just figures, they are real people.  As we know, there are major economic and social costs associated with having so many young people idle. 

Making matters worse is the fact that the consequences of youth unemployment can last for years.  Those who begin their careers without work are more likely to have lower wages and suffer joblessness again in later life. 

While undoubtedly a strong influence, not all youth unemployment can be explained by the current economic environment where consumer spending levels are well below what many employers require in order to justify taking on new workers.

Lack of qualifications can be a major barrier to youth employment.  In this case the candidate may be missing not only specialised skills and core competencies like literacy and numeracy, but more rudimentary ‘employability’ skills such as the ability to problem solve, initiative, self management and team work.

The tendency for young people to change jobs more frequently than their older counterparts also explains some youth unemployment, as they are classified as unemployed while searching for their next job.

High wages can also mute job prospects.  In Australia, the 3 per cent increase in the national minimum wage this year and the Fair Work Commission decision to increase award rates of pay for 20 year old retail workers may have been good news for existing job holders. However, as employers have to bear these higher costs, these decisions were arguably detrimental to new job seekers.

Realising that there are many influences on youth unemployment provides a guide as to where policy makers should focus their efforts.  VECCI’s Taking Care of Business 2014 State Election business agenda calls on both major parties to commit to a series of reforms that will help address youth unemployment in Victoria.

Among these is our recommendation to raise the payroll tax free threshold from $550,000 to $850,000.  This will lower business costs and create an incentive for employers to hire new staff, including youth.

We also want to see both sides of politics deliver the priority infrastructure projects Victoria needs to keep growing; maximising opportunities for apprentices and trainees.

Importantly, VECCI is calling for further reform of the education and training system. Reform is needed to support not only industries and workforces undergoing structural change, but the continued internationalisation and innovation characteristic of our high growth advanced manufacturing and service industries.

Recent State Government reforms to vocational education and training have sensibly sought to shift training funding towards specialised or skill shortage occupations. However as a consequence, funding for lower level qualifications that provide literacy, numeracy and work preparation skills for many young people has been reduced and both the workforce and employers have suffered.

VECCI’s recommended reforms alone will not solve youth unemployment, but they are needed as part of a coordinated response by state and federal governments to curb the prospect of a jobless generation.

*

The Victorian Employers' Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VECCI) is the peak body for employers in Victoria, informing and servicing more than 15,000 members, customers and clients around the state.

vecci.org.au  

QUEENSLAND’s peak body for the resources sector has welcomed the passage of the Mineral and Energy Resources (Common Provisions) Bill, which delivers a recipe for regional economic growth.

Queensland Resources Council (QRC) Chief Executive Michael Roche says this important legislation again demonstrates that the Minister for Natural Resources and Mines, Andrew Cripps remains focused on enabling regional growth and development by streamlining unnecessary regulation.

"This Bill streamlines the objections process for the grant of a mining tenure but does not limit or remove a right to object to the mining project, rather, objections are considered as part of the project’s environmental authority," Mr Roche said. 

"Communities and landholders remain important stakeholders and still retain a genuine opportunity to raise concerns over a mining project’s environmental impacts.

"The amendments reduce unnecessary duplication in Queensland’s approvals processes," he said.

Mr Roche said QRC would also like to acknowledge the chair of the Parliamentary Committee, Ian Rickuss, the hard-working member for Lockyer, who succeeded in keeping the committee hearings on this legislation grounded in reality while they were surrounded in controversy.

"Mr Rickuss and the majority of committee members have demonstrated that they can see past the cheap theatrics and focus on the actual issues at hand, which are fair process, regional growth and delivering regional jobs," Mr Roche said. 

"The committee hearings were a good opportunity to hear the important concerns of genuine landholders."

The Bill introduced a number of important reforms including:

	implementing the 2012 findings of the Land Access Implementation Committee—on which peak agricultural groups worked closely with peak resource industry bodies under an independent Chair
	a new process for ensuring that the maximum resource extraction occurs when coal and coal seam gas tenures overlap—that’s good news for Queensland as it means jobs and royalties will be maximised
	providing new powers to ensure legacy boreholes can be swiftly made safe; and
	a simple and consistent system of restricted land for all resource tenures—that’s good news for landholders.

QRC remains committed to working closely with the industry’s stakeholders, including landholders, rural and regional communities and peak agriculture bodies with whom we share an interest in seeing regional Queensland grow and develop.

www.qrc.org.au

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