The federal House of Representatives Standing Committee on Regional Australia has launched an inquiry into the experience of fly-in/fly-out (FIFO) and drive-in/drive-out (DIDO) workers, aimed at canvassing a range of issues affecting both sectors.
Tasked by Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government Simon Crean, the inquiry is expected to look into a number of areas related to FIFO and DIDO workers, including:
- the extent and projected growth of FIFO/DIDO work practices;
- the impact of FIFO/DIDO on individuals, communities and companies;
- long-term strategies for economic diversification in towns with large FIFO/DIDO workforces and;
- provision of services, infrastructure and housing availability for FIFO/DIDO employees
“The Committee recognises that the use of fly-in/fly-out and drive-in/drive-out workforces in the mining sector raises a number of significant challenges and opportunities for individuals and their families, communities and employers. We are interested in exploring all of those issue and hope to also hear from mining companies who are utilising FIFO/DIDO for their employees,” Committee chair Tony Windsor said.
Individual members of the public, community groups and employers are all being urged to make submissions to the inquiry, which are due to close on October 7. In the meantime, the Committee will travel throughout regional Australia to hold public hearings and speak with those involved in the FIFO and DIDO sectors.
Further information and full terms of reference on the inquiry are available at www.aph.gov.au/ra or by contacting the Committee’s secretariat on (02) 6277 4162.
