THE fly-in, fly-out trend is destroying the social fabric of regional communities, as workers leave key local roles and volunteer positions for lucrative mining jobs.
The fly-in, fly-out workforce is destroying the social fabric of regional communities, as workers leave key local roles and volunteer positions for lucrative mining jobs.
This is the warning from business and community groups in regional WA, who have called on the government to intervene to stop the mining industry "tearing at the fabric" of regional towns.
In submissions to the federal inquiry into the impact of FIFO, groups in the Midwest and Kalgoorlie Boulder claim workers are being lured from essential roles in local government, child care and health to higher-paying positions on mine sites.
In its submission the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Chamber of Commerce and Industry calls for more incentives to encourage FIFO workers to live in regional towns.
"There is little doubt that FIFO will ultimately destroy the social fabric of the community. It is already noticeable that sporting groups and other community organisations are shrinking as employment trends change," chief executive Hugh Gallagher wrote.
Mr Gallagher said while FIFO was often the only option for mining groups, it had also become a "habit" for many other mining companies and major contractors.
"They do not consider other options that contribute to the communities within the immediate proximity of their current of prospective operations," he said.
Alan Bradley, chief executive of the government-funded Midwest Gascoyne Regional Development organisation, said while many residents were choosing community and lifestyle over mining salaries, growing numbers were being drawn into the mining industry.
"The draw to capitalise on the attractive salaries offered by mines draws people from the community to mine employment, thus breaking down the fabric of the local community, with fewer services being available and skilled people no longer available in the community – they're flying back to the nearest capital," Mr Bradley said in his submission.
"This has a significant impact on volunteer services too; sports clubs, child care and environmental management as examples."
Mr Bradley called on mining companies to invest more money into regional communities to make them more attractive to workers and their families.
He also said the government's Fringe Benefit Tax should be modified to address the 'inequitable balance' which favours FIFO workforces.
The Association of Mining and Exploration Companies said it was opposed to any government intervention which would regulate how companies manage their workforce and their interactions with communities.
"The sheer fact that no two mines are the same will make policies difficult to implement uniformly across the industry and communities, which will create inequalities between stakeholders," AMEC chief executive Simon Bennison said.
He said the nature of the industry and the skills required meant that employees were often not in one location or job for a long period, meaning settling in a community may not be justified.
AMEC dismissed calls for mining giants to invest in social infrastructure as inappropriate, saying it was the primary responsibility of government.
The parliamentary inquiry will hold public hearings in Port Hedland, Karratha, Broome, Kalgoorlie and Perth over the next few months.
