Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport) Share this | Hansard source

I am pleased to have the opportunity to make a contribution to this very important debate on fly-in fly-out company workforce agreements. As the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government between 2007 and 2010, local communities, particularly those in Queensland and Western Australia but to a lesser extent those in other parts of Australia, raised this matter with me in a very consistent manner. There is no doubt that fly-in fly-out suits some people, being able to live where they have their base—be it in Perth or one of the other coastal cities—and gain a good living as a fly-in fly-out worker. It can assist companies, particularly when they are employing people for the short term. But there is also no doubt that it has a huge impact on communities and on individuals and families.

That is why the report tabled in February last year by Tony Windsor's committee was so important. It is a significant report from someone who adorned this chamber as the member for New England, and I think his absence is a significant loss. Tony Windsor was a great thinker and a great advocate for regional Australia, not least of which his New England community. The report highlighted the impact of fly-in fly-out work on local communities. Because of the lack of a stable and permanent workforce there is a lack of hard infrastructure in terms of transport and also a lack of social infrastructure such as schools and hospitals. Local towns face a reduction in employment opportunities due to a lack of banking, pharmaceutical and other service industries.

The report recommended further research into the social and economic impacts of fly-in fly-out work on communities. There is no doubt, anecdotally, that there is a real concern about the impact of people being away from their spouse and children for a long period of time. There is also no doubt that, if it were possible, many people would choose to move permanently to the communities where they work. I recall opening a childcare centre in Karratha and asking how it was going. Not only was it full on day one; people who had been wanting to access child care had been on the waiting list for months in advance. People wanted to be able to live with their families in that local community.

It is one of the reasons the government established the Regional Infrastructure Fund to work on developing regional community infrastructure, which was underpinned by the work of Infrastructure Australia. The Windsor committee brought down important recommendations that should in my view be supported by the government. For example, the committee's report recommended that the National Housing Supply Council be tasked to develop and implement a strategy to address the lack of affordable housing in fly-in fly-out communities. It also recommended further analysis into the impact on health and educational opportunities in those communities.

This issue affects families and local communities. Nine months on from the election of the government, it would be timely for it to produce a response to this report. The opposition will respond constructively to any proposals which seek to balance the need for appropriate economic activity with the need to look after families and local communities.

Debate adjourned.

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