THE Queensland Resources Council (QRC) said it was disappointing to see reports that engineering firm Aurecon would end its business relationship with Adani "based on ill-informed bullying from anti-resources activists".

QRC chief executive Ian Macfarlane said regional Queenslanders would be the ones who missed out on jobs as a result.

“All businesses and CEOs should stand up to defend the opportunities in our resources sector,” Mr Macfarlane said.

“The resources sector is one of Queensland’s biggest employers. It supports more than 315,000 jobs, and over 262,000 of those jobs are in associated businesses and industries.

“The majority of those supporting jobs are in regional Queensland.

“So it’s disappointing to see any business give in to bullying tactics from activists, many of who are acting illegally to disrupt lives and businesses," Mr Macfarlane said.

“Ultimately every company can make its own business decisions. But it’s local workers who will miss out through the lost opportunities of working on new investments and new resources projects.“

The resources sector creates one in every eight jobs in Queensland and generates one in every five dollars, according to QRC figures.

"It delivers for every Queenslander through more than $5.2 billion in royalty taxes and making up 80 percent of Queensland’s export earnings," Mr Macfarlane said.

“It provides jobs and opportunities in every town and city in Queensland. All Queenslanders should be proud of our resources industry and the incredible things it helps build. 

“We should stand up against the bullying tactics of anti-resources activists, most of who rely on the very industry they demonise for their everyday lives.

“The QRC backs our resources workers and we hope to see everyone in our great industry do the same.”

www.qrc.org.au

ends

LEGISLATION to close a loophole that lets employers rip off workers who try and do the right thing by contributing to their super through salary sacrifice is welcome, but doesn’t go far enough according to Industry Super Australia.

Industry Super Australia (ISA) has published its submission to the Treasury Laws Amendment (Tax Integrity and Other Measures No 1.) Bill 2019, which seeks to close a loophole that has seen employers able to count a worker’s salary sacrifice contribution to their super as the employer’s own contribution.

ISA analysis of 2016-17 ATO data revealed that more than 370,000 Australian workers are currently missing out on $1.5 billion in super entitlements each year because of this loophole.

Despite the previous Parliament considering legislation to close this loophole, for some reason it was never brought on for debate in the Senate, meaning workers are continuing to miss out on their retirement savings, according to ISA chief executive Bernie Dean.

ISA has called on the Federal Government to address the bigger issue of unpaid super, "with one in three workers currently missing out on close to $6 billion in super because dodgy bosses are holding on to the money for themselves, rather than paying it into their employees super account".

"This happens because under the current law, employers are only required to pay super into a workers account quarterly, making it easy for them to hang on to the money and put it back into their business, or only pay a proportion of what the worker is entitled to," Mr Dean said.

"While the salary sacrifice loophole is a serious issue and must be fixed, the proportion of workers impacted by this loophole is around 17 percent of the total number of workers who are not being paid their legal super entitlements.

"In other words, the government’s Bill only fixes 17 percent of the problem."

ISA is calling on the Federal Government to take action on the bigger problem of unpaid super, by committing to change the law and make super payable on pay day.

"Federal politicians currently receive their super on pay day, it’s time there was one rule for everyone," Mr Dean said.

“More than 370,000 workers who think they’re doing the right thing and contributing to their own super are actually being double-crossed by their employers because of this loophole.

“This is one part of a much bigger problem. One in three workers are not getting paid super because dodgy bosses are hanging on to it and keeping it inside their business. It’s daylight robbery," Mr Dean said.

“The government needs to fix the whole problem – not just part of it. The government needs to go further and stop unpaid super once and for all by making super payable on pay day.”

ISA’s submission can be accessed here.

www.industrysuper.com

ends

THE Queensland Resources Council (QRC) has welcomed the Palaszczuk Government’s announcement of new powers to crack down on extremist activists who are risking their own lives and the lives of others with their reckless tactics.

QRC chief executive Ian Macfarlane said the new offence to prevent dangerous devices being used to shut down public thoroughfares and infrastructure was an important measure to protect everyday citizens simply going about their lives and doing their jobs.

“QRC supports the right of every Queenslander to protest peacefully.  But by locking on to rail lines or blocking trains, activists clearly cross the line to becoming a danger to themselves, to the safety of train drivers and a menace to the wellbeing of the entire community,” Mr Macfarlane said.

“There have been too many near misses from reckless activists who disregard safety by blocking railway lines or roads.

“Safety is the number one priority for everyone who works in or with the resources industry," he said.

“The careless actions of protestors who disrupt rail lines make a mockery of those safety standards.  But hypocritically at the same time those reckless activists are relying on the strict safety environment and skilled staff who work on the rail network to prevent a tragedy.

“Protestors cannot be allowed to flout the law at their own choosing and to continually disrupt lawful business and people going about their day-to-day lives.

“This new power is an important step, but there is more to be done to address the range of disruptive and dangerous tactics activists are using on rail, roads and other infrastructure," Mr Macfarlane said.

“The QRC calls on the entire Parliament to support the Criminal Code (Trespass Offences) Amendment Bill put forward by the LNP to crack down on activists who take part in illegal trespass.”

www.qrc.org.au

ends

THE Palaszczuk Government is backing business and giving young Queenslanders access to gain a valuable qualification for free to build a career in the industries where we know there will be jobs.

The Skills Strategy is a blueprint to deliver Queensland’s next generation of skilled workers.

A huge part of The Skills Strategy includes free apprenticeships for people under 21 years of age, across 139 qualifications.

"This is great news for young Queenslanders but even better news for businesses as they won’t have to bear the cost of training an apprentice," Queensland Premier Anastacia Palasczuk said.

Qualifications on offer are in traditional trade areas as well as non-trade areas such as electrical, plumbing, engineering, healthcare, hospitality, and early childhood.

ends