A diversified mineral producer will be able to only employ remote workers in the Isaac region.
Bravus Mining and Resources recently launched legal action against the Department of State Development and Infrastructure for preventing the proponent from using a 100 per cent fly-in fly-out (FIFO) workforce at the Carmichael Coal Mine, 160km northwest of Clermont.
Bravus claimed the site was almost 35km beyond the 125km vicinity in which companies must not only use FIFO employees. The company already voluntarily employs jobseekers from everywhere and more than 80 per cent of its workforce comes from regional Queensland.
“We brought this legal action because the state’s decision to legislate that we employ Clermont locals was unnecessary overregulation as we already do so and have done so throughout construction and operation of the Carmichael mine,” a spokesperson said in a public statement.
However, the Coordinator-General Office still expanded the “nearby regional community” area to include Clermont.
“Accordingly, this means the 100 per cent FIFO prohibition and anti-discrimination in recruitment provisions [which prohibit discrimination against locals applying for jobs] now apply to the project,” assistant coordinator general Kerry Smeltzer said according to the Daily Mail.
The department eventually responded to Bravus’ Brisbane Supreme Court action by withdrawing its expanded area due to an “administrative error”. This means the mining company can now use a 100 per cent FIFO workforce.
“The decision made in September 2023 was intended to achieve the objective of the [laws], so residents living nearby the Carmichael coal mine benefit from the operation of the project,” a coordinator general spokesperson said.
“The coordinator general will continue to work with both Bravus and Isaac Regional Council to ensure the objectives … are achieved for the community of Clermont.”
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