Articles by Jessica Burke

The resources boom is not showing any signs of slowing down, but the number of workers available to fill the ever-increasing number of vacancies is falling constantly, and the industry is struggling to keep up. It has been widely reported that Western Australia alone will require about 33 000 extra workers this year and the lack of staff available in the lucrative sector was acknowledged in the...Full Article »

Australia’s largest magnetite producer is expecting to be out of pocket $11 million by the Gillard government’s carbon tax and diesel fuel rebate. Grange Resources said it expects to pay almost $10 million a year under the carbon tax, plus an additional $1 million due to the diesel fuel rebate, according to The Australian. Speaking in Kalgoorlie at the Diggers and Dealers conference,...Full Article »

The number of mine workers on fly-in fly-out (FIFO) work agreements is increasing, but experts warn their sex lives may be doing the opposite. Recent studies show while the money earned is great, the tens of thousands of workers who fly between work and home are facing long term disruption to both the employee and their partner.   Managers are now being forced to provide more than high...Full Article »

Changes to Mining Tax Draft Legislation: Significant Impact for Big Miners The new draft of the Minerals Resources Rent Tax (MRRT) has been met with criticism from many of Australia’s miners. Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest told a news conference over the weekend that his company, Fortescue Metals Group (FMG) will be hit the hardest by the revised tax, which proposes a 30 per cent tax...Full Article »

The skills shortage won't be solved overnight   How can the mining industry really boom if there are not enough people to actually light the fuse?   It's like trying to perform brain surgery without the surgeon. The tools are there, the brain is there, but unless there are a few pairs of hands to do the work and some knowledge on how to go about poking a squishy brain, nothing...Full Article »

As the skills shortage in the resource industry continues to worsen, peak industry groups in Western Australia and Queensland have joined with a national industry skills council to address the issue. The Chamber of Minerals and Energy Western Australia (CME), Queensland Resources Council (QRC) and SkillsDMC have joined forces to create strategies to sources the huge number of workers needed over...Full Article »

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has told an audience of female miners that the mining boom will only benefit Australia if women are included. While addressing hundreds of mining women in Moranbah yesterday, Gillard said she would like to see the number of females in the resource and construction industries increase by seven per cent by 2020. This would bring the number of women in the industries up...Full Article »

The uranium industry has exploded with debate and controversy about the enrichment, export and safety of nuclear energy and whether it is economically and politically viable as an export or a power source for Australia.   Penny Wong recently warned South Australia against becoming involved in nuclear enrichment. The senior federal South Australian Minister and former climate change minister...Full Article »

The audit of coal mines in New Zealand following the Pike River Coal mine tragedy has found two mines are not compliant with health and safety regulations. The audit report shows improvements could be made at the four mines investigated, but they do not present imminent danger.   The New Zealand government ordered the audits following the death of 29 men inside the Pike River mine in...Full Article »