Greetings Yabby, I agree, there are some examples of on-site training – full credit to FMG for their commitment to training Indigenous staff, however the great majority of training is more induction than equipment specific. Apart from cases of internal promotion, e.g.: Field hand to Haulpack driver, I would be amazed to learn of any mining company (or contractor) who takes on un-trained Haulpack drivers in any other situation.

And yes, you are quite right about the requirement for trained boiler maker welders, but that is my point, if we give people a start with basic welding, then train them up and here, I see no problems with people signing contracts – much as happens with teachers and to a lesser extent, doctors – we train you, you’ll stay working for us for three years, that sort of thing, commitment must work both ways.

The point about only seeing ads for skilled people is exactly my point (excluding graduate type roles), the mining companies should be training people for these positions, they’ve avoided it for many years, I think the new tax should be used as a Carrot on the Stick – train people and pay less tax, don’t train them and pay 40%.

The issue of FIFO is complicated and different for every individual / family, however Cornflower has a very valid point in terms of infrastructure; back in the days of Hamersley Iron etc, Pilbara mining towns had a strong sense of community, structure and family lifestyle was catered for, but when you get FIFO workers, through nobodies fault, it simply isn’t possible for FIFO workers to participate / value add to local communities, most are working 12hr shifts and leisure time is spent at home, elsewhere in the country, whereas with permanent towns, governments can build the infrastructure, something Brendon Grylls is very keen to do with his Regional funding programme. As for flies, well, if you can’t put up with ‘em , you might as well leave Oz!
Cheers

*And yes, you are quite right about the requirement for trained boiler maker welders, but that is my point, if we give people a start with basic welding, then train them up and here*

Larrikan, there are indeed places in Perth training boilermaker
welders, but there are good reasons to train apprentices in the
city, rather then on a mine site. It costs a great deal to
keep people in the NW. Trade schools etc, which they need to
attend, are in the city. The list goes on. Most of the work
is in building new mine developments, its done by contractors.
They employ people. Mining companies often only employ
supervising staff and specialist staff. Engineers, geologists,
mine site managers etc. Those are the skills that we are
really short of.

There was a major report on apprenticeships in a recent AFR.
Its sounds like a huge number simply drop out after a year
or two. Perhaps we need a better system of discovering teenagers
real aptitudes, often they haven't a clue, until they try
something. Then try and see that they stick it through their
training.

*As for flies, well, if you can’t put up with ‘em , you might as well leave Oz!*

I live in the country and I know how a great many city people
react to country life. If you were correct, then a great deal
of our city slicker population would have to head overseas!

Yabby

To the contrary, wives would prefer to be with their menfolk, especially where they have young children. It is easily possible to have good child minding and school facilities and that is what concerns women most.

As for doctors, what is most needed is a health clinic - along the UK primary health care model which does not require a doctor consultation for all visits, but one available where needed. A mining operation also benefits from this resource.

The reason the big miners don't build towns any more is simply because they are calling the shots and they can get away with it, nothing more. Governments, State and federal, are gutless and short-sighted.

*To the contrary, wives would prefer to be with their menfolk, especially where they have young children.*

Cornflower, families are free to move to the NW if they wish.
There are towns, medical facilities etc. The fact is
most families choose not to do that. Many women have
careers in the city, they are not prepared to give them
up. Don't blame the miners for choices that individuals
make. I live near a town where quite a few of the inhabitants
fly in fly out. Those women have no intention of leaving
their friends and social circle, to go and live in the heat
and the dust.

Maybe you would, but then that is just you.

People do actually have a choice.

Just a small point Algore,

Corporatism grew out of Fascism - in fact Mussolini invented the very word itself.

Unlike everything else that you get worked up about, I don't think you can pin that one exclusively on those evil socialists.

Now we see the Gift of Corporatism at work using 457 Visas to import skilled staff to save money, because they don't need to train them and can dump them once the job is done -no redundancies for them here.

That's what those Visas were for - to import skilled people. It can't be in the interests of unions because it also potentially drives skilled wages down.

It's so much better than investing time and money on apprenticeships and other such socialist union scams.

what do we all think the mining tax was about. These companies avoid anything that looks like a social conscience. housing prices in mining towns are out of control so families can not afford to live there. No infrastructure has been considered for many years and training staff with responsible work place relations a joke. To really cream the cake, now that they have been called to pay for their selfishness with the tax they have launched an advertising campaign to achieve the down fall of a government. Is this not interference in the stability of a government to achieve a corporate outcome. Something stinks.