80% say mining companies should employ locals first

4 in 5 say mining companies should employ locals first
Gina Rinehart’s Roy Hill mine rejected as model

An overwhelming majority of Australians believe mining companies should be required to prove they have thoroughly explored options to employ Australians before being permitted to import temporary foreign workers, independent national polling commissioned by the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union shows.

 80% agree that mining companies should have to prove that they have thoroughly searched for Australian workers before being permitted to import temporary foreign workers (against 6% who disagree)

56% of Australians disapprove of the EMA that allows the Roy Hill iron ore project to import 1,715 temporary foreign workers (against 14% who approve)

70% of Australians agree that a tripartite committee - consisting of regulators, employers and unions – should oversee all EMAs (against 8% who disagree)

 CFMEU Construction National Secretary, Dave Noonan said the results demonstrate the depth of the public feeling on the issue.

 “Four in five Australians want employers to prove they have looked for local workers before being granted permission to bring over guest labour,” Mr Noonan said.

 “These numbers show us that a significant majority are opposed to the deal granted to Gina Rinehart’s Roy Hill and want much stronger controls and regulation on the use of imported labour.

 “Ms Rinehart may dream of a ‘Wild North’ in which mining magnates can fly in exploitable temporary foreign workers at will, but the overwhelming majority of Australians are simply not buying it. They want strict controls on EMAs and independent oversight.

 “70 per cent of Australians want to see a tripartite committee – consisting of regulators, employers and unions – to oversee EMAs. The Government must take heed.  Despite some aggressive spruiking from the powerful few who want to further weaken restrictions on guest workers, the overwhelming majority of Australians want them tightened.

 “There are still astounding profits being generated by the Australian mining and mine construction sector. Those who are profiting from the nation’s natural resources have a responsibility to assist in training and employing Australians. These results only add to the impetus of our ‘Let’s spread it around’ campaign. We are determined to see ordinary Australians share in the benefits of the mining boom.

Poll details
The poll was conducted by independent research firm Your Source, and used a demographically controlled sample of 1,021 Australians.
(Polling conducted between 20/11/12 and 25/11/12)

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