CFMEU: Discgraceful decision to import mineworkers

The CFMEU today called on the Federal Government to rethink today’s ‘historic’ announcement to allow Gina Reinhart to bring in over 1,700 overseas workers on temporary 457 visas to build a new mining project in Western Australia.

Australia’s first Enterprise Migration Agreement (EMA) will bring in more 457 visa workers in one hit than are presently employed in the construction industry throughout Western Australia in skilled and sub-trades positions.

CFMEU Construction National Secretary, Dave Noonan said that this decision was a disgrace, as the company had not been required to try and employ local workers before being granted the EMA.
“Today’s decision is disgraceful and unnecessary.  At a time of high youth unemployment in many parts of Perth and Western Australia, job losses in the non-mining states, and declining construction employment, Immigration Minister Chris Bowen has written a blank cheque to Australia’s richest woman.

“Instead of standing up for Australian workers and requiring her to advertise these positions or train workers for them, Chris Bowen has fallen over himself to help Gina Rinehart bring in cheap bonded overseas labour,” Mr. Noonan said.

“This IS historic – a sad historic day when Minister Bowen put the interests of a mining baron before local workers, local apprentices and the local economy,” Mr. Noonan said.

“Ms Rinehart is on the public record in her poetry, saying that she wants to create an economic zone where overseas workers are preferred over local workers and Australian conditions. We should expect this from mining barons who are trying to squeeze everything they can from Australia’s minerals for their own benefits.

“But for a Labor Minister to assist in this vision is a real slap in the face for local construction workers,” Mr. Noonan said.

Mr. Noonan said that the new agreement will mean that at least 21% of the total construction workforce for this project will be temporary foreign labour.

“Apart from the impact on local workers, the CFMEU is also very concerned that these workers owe their temporary visas to their employer, and are under constant threat of deportation if they stand up for their rights or complain about dangerous conditions,” Mr. Noonan said.

Mr. Noonan demanded that the Government and Reinhart supply the public with any of the local job advertisements or other proof that her company had tried to find local workers.

Mr. Noonan said the Prime Minister must take control of the issue and ensure that the interests of Australia workers and the Australian community first in all future decisions.