Regional centres ‘will pay price’ for no FIFO solutions
IF solutions to FIFO aren't found for Central Queensland's mining towns, regional centres like Rockhampton and Mackay will pay the price.
Federal Goverment Member for Capricornia Kirsten Livermore yesterday said there was uncertainty around what was expected to unfold in mining communities.
Ms Livermore called on mining companies to engage more with regional centres so goal-setting could take place at local council level.
"If we don't get fly-in fly-out solutions for places like Moranbah there will be problems in Rockhampton and Mackay," Ms Livermore said.
"A mechanism needs to be developed to properly measure the effect of fly-in fly-out practices on communities where miners live permanently because that affects funding for local councils. There is also the question of the fringe benefits tax of the fly-in fly-out arrangements and whether there were distortions in the tax system that make the playing field unbalanced."
