Many Australians, (of all ages), would love the chance of long-term employment within the mining sector, however the major parties continue to advocate the use of overseas workers. A far better solution would be to offer incentives to mining companies and their suppliers, to train suitable Australians for positions, with tax breaks to companies doing the right thing, (that softens the new mining tax!) and no tax breaks for companies refusing to train new staff.

Currently, every resource based job advertisement declares experience a pre-requisite – they don’t want to train anybody. They will once again rape and pillage local governments and small business for trained staff, then when that pool runs dry, import cheap temporary labour from overseas.

The second-tier mining companies ad might say “You’ll get whacked,” what they don’t tell you, is you’ll get whacked anyway – the price of everything goes sky-high and the wider community gains very little if any real benefit, the price of everything soars. Then when it all goes off the boil, they retrench faster than any other business in Australia. Make no mistake, if you're not employed within the mining sector, there is NO benefit from any mining boom, unless you have rental property.

Returning to the concept of training people already living in Australia, I’m talking blue-collar labourers, Howard’s Battlers, not graduate engineers etc. It isn’t difficult, or expensive, to train somebody to drive an ore truck, a loader, or a forklift, or to use a welder for that matter and the long-term benefit to Australia is profound. If a skilled person is not available for a position, anyone who is a suitable candidate and an Australian resident, but without the necessary experience, should be given the opportunity of being trained for the position.

Whoever is elected - Julia Gillard, Tony Abbott ... or Kevin Rudd?? - has a wonderful opportunity to help all Australians benefit from the envisaged mining boom. The Greens, although seemingly incapable of negotiation, should they gain control in the Senate, could push for this, rather than trying to impose ludicrous tax levels on mining companies.

This reminds me a bit of the rise of fascism in Italy.

Once the Unions/socialists occupied the farms.. they then TOLD the farmers how many workers they MUST employ. (economic viability left out in the woodshed?)

So.. ok.. you want to make your case..give us some FACTS and FIGURES
to base our opinion of your opinion on.

a) What training is involved?
b) How many Aussies have been rejected for overseas workers.. ie... is your point assumption or based on evidence? If on evidence.. put up or shut up.

You’re making me smile and yes, Al Gore is rich – the bastard, he’s on the wrong side, he’s not supposed to have money! However, you’re looking for facts my friend.

Training: Dump truck (electric), four – five days, with an additional one week observation period. Tipper truck driving, three days for tray top, one week for semi plus two to three days for tipper. Road train (MC) tipper work – Side, Belly etc, is more complicated and requires, by law, several years semi experience before an MC licence is granted, then six months or so tipper work, before graduating to MC Side and Belly dumping. There are also considerable safety and maintenance issues involved here, all of which need experience. Welding – two – five days for repetitive work. Labourers / off-siders / cleaners – two to three days.

Available Mining Jobs: I don’t know what’s advertised in Eastern States (NSW / VIC) newspapers, however a search of The West Australian on any Wednesday, or Saturday will conclusively prove my point that mining companies and their sub-contractors will not train anyone. Of course the best / most obvious indicator is the major job website SEEK, have a scroll through.

Rejection of Australian-based workers: I’m not in a position to give exact details, however the 457 Visa method was used extensively throughout WA in the previous boom period and not only by miners, even native timber furniture manufactures brought in overseas cheaper labour, not to mention some vehemently anti-union construction companies that positivly revelled in the availability of cheaper overseas labour.

But look, I have no idea what your occupation is, so may I suggest a little trial? Apply for a mining job that you’re not trained or qualified for (not a discipline requiring a degree) and let us know how you go. As you say, put up or shut up.

While slightly off-thread, the mining companies also refuse to build local townships for their employees, which saves them a bit of money but causes enormous disruption to employees' lives and causes even more dislocation of government services.

If miners created townships as they once did, it would be so much easier to deliver much-needed education and medical services in many remote areas.

*however a search of The West Australian on any Wednesday, or Saturday will conclusively prove my point that mining companies and their sub-contractors will not train anyone.*

Not so, Larrikan. I know a bloke who was given an electricians
apprenticeship by Woodside. One of my relatives was trained as
a wireline operator by miners, the list goes on. Haulpack drivers
etc, are all trained on site.

You can teach somebody to do a bit of welding, but there is a huge
difference between that and welding together multi million $
infrastructure equipment, where trained boilermaker welders
are required.

The reason you only see ads for skilled people is because that is
where the shortage lies. Any jobs for the unskilled or easily
trained, are quickly snapped up, often before they hit the papers,
because people within the industry find jobs for their mates.

*If miners created townships as they once did*

Cornflower, the way I understand it, miners commonly respond to
the requests of their workforce and many wives simply don't want
to live in places like the Pilbara. They claim its too hot,
too many flies and not enough shopping etc. So fly in fly out,
makes a great deal of sense.

Its not just miners affected. Country areas, just a few hours
from Perth, face a huge doctor shortage. Even if the doctors
can be found and paid extra, their wives commonly don't want
to live in the country, so many travel back to Perth every
weekend.

Larry can.

The mining companies do training, but like most organisations employ the majority with experience.