AUSTRALIAN Mines and Metals Association (AMMA) CEO Steve Knott has welcomed the Australian Government today making three exceptional appointments to Australia’s national employment tribunal, the Fair Work Commission (FWC).
 
The appointment to Deputy President of Peter Anderson – business experienced, legally qualified, and well regarded both domestically and internationally – ticks all the boxes for the type of people the FWC needs to restore its credibility and independence, Mr Knott said.
 
"Peter is widely-known and well-regarded by business, unions and the legal community, most notably for his six-year leadership of the nation’s umbrella business representative organisation, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI)," Mr Knott said.
 
"AMMA worked very closely with Peter during this time and found him to be a highly effective and considered statesman, engaging equally with all social partners to support valuable investment and employment outcomes in Australia.
 
"Perhaps less well known is the high regard to which Peter is held at the international level, having been our region’s representative for the Governing Body of the International Labour Organisation (ILO). In that role, Peter has advocated Australia’s interests and values in discussions on workplace relations, youth unemployment, freedom of association, economic and taxation policy and many other key social issues.
 
"AMMA also congratulates the two additional appointees announced today: Corrs Chambers Westgarth Partner, Alan Colman, as Deputy President; and Sarah McKinnon, general manager of workplace relations and legal affairs at the National Farmers’ Federation, as Commissioner.
 
"Mr Colman and Ms McKinnon are both highly qualified and have the type of broad experience across law, workplace relations and business that will see the FWC better support employment outcomes in the future."
 
In recent months AMMA has highlighted the issue of growing vacancies at the FWC and the urgent need for new appointees to have business experience and legal qualifications.
 
"We are pleased the Australian Government has acted to fill vacancies on the national employment tribunal and have selected quality appointees who add considerably to the FWC’s bench strength," Mr Knott said.

www.amma.org.au

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THE Queensland Resources Council is extremely concerned to see the broadening of the work of the select committee into Coal Workers’ Pneumoconiosis before the first inquiry has been finalised.
 
QRC chief executive Ian Macfarlane said to change the scope at this stage is unhelpful.
 
“It adds even greater uncertainty for all parties involved and further delays outcomes to the affected coal miners,” Mr Macfarlane said.  
 
“Industry is already taking pro-active steps to address dust levels on mine sites and we are working with unions and governments to ensure levels are kept below the regulated limits.
 
“Industry has also worked proactively to make sure that concerned retired workers, and workers who are no longer coal mining, are offered screening for the disease.
 
“Industry must have confidence in the medical assessments that our workers undergo. It is now clear that the advice the Department of Natural Resources and Mines (DNRM), industry and unions were receiving from many medical specialists, especially radiologists from the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists (RANZCAR) simply wasn’t good enough.
 
“There are examples of GPs in Rockhampton and Mackay diagnosing cases that the radiologists had missed. This is simply not good enough," he said.
 
“There must be a significant improvement in the standard of medical assessments that our coal workers are required to undergo. We want nothing less than the world’s best practice when it comes to the industry. It is vital the radiologists are highly skilled and using the best equipment that is available to make sure that we are getting every case at its earliest stages."
 
The committee’s first report is now not expected until late May and the date of the final report has been extended to September.

www.qrc.org.au

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