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Mine companies seek to advertise Indigenous only jobs

A major resources industry group is calling on the federal government to relax laws preventing mine companies from advertising Indigenous only jobs.

Executive Director of the AMMA, Scott Barklamb, said the move could address concerns that
“Indigenous jobs growth is not keeping up with population increase.”

“The resource industry’s success in Indigenous participation is evidenced in the proportion of
Indigenous workers in relation to its total workforce (3.1%), which is more than double the all
industries average (1.4%). But we must keep the momentum going,” Barklamb said.

“… we have this week begun inducting a group of Indigenous jobseekers on a fully-funded
Certificate II in Hospitality with the view to work at one of Western Australia’s mine
accommodation villages.

“This follows another program where unemployed Indigenous people were trained and
employed in mine site security. These are real-life examples of what can be achieved when
industry and government collaborate to support Indigenous employment.”

In a submission to the Australian Government’s Review of Indigenous Training and
Employment, headed by FMG chairman Andrew Forrest, AMMA outlined opportunities for
government to expand on the resource industry’s track record of Indigenous participation.

“As we manage the industry’s transition to greater levels of production and prepare for new
projects, the resource industry will continue to play a lead role in delivering jobs and
economic growth,”  Barklamb says.

“Andrew Forrest’s review could also address the existing ambiguity around anti-discrimination
laws that can prevent employers from targeting job advertisements to Indigenous people.”

AMMA’s submission also recommends better equipping Indigenous businesses to tender for
resource industry work and preparing more Indigenous people to take up FIFO/DIDO roles.

“An opportunity exists to research, promote and expand on successful resource industry
initiatives to further Indigenous employment prospects throughout our nation,”  Barklamb
said.

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