The employment catchment for workers looking to benefit from the $35 billion Australia Pacific LNG (APLNG) project in the Maranoa region has been widened by the Palaszczuk Government.
Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning Cameron Dick said the changes mean Roma, Yuleba and Jackson residents are protected by the state's 100 per cent FIFO prohibition and anti-discrimination provisions.
"The Palaszczuk Government introduced the Strong and Sustainable Resource Communities Act 2017 to protect regional Queensland jobs on sites like APLNG's gas fields," Mr Dick said.
"Our government was the first in Australia to legislate the management of FIFO workforce arrangements, because we care about our regions and we care about regional workers.
"This widening was facilitated by Queensland's Coordinator-General and is in response to requests from Maranoa Regional Council to include Roma, Yuleba and Jackson as nearby regional communities for the APLNG project.
"These three communities are all within close proximity to project gas fields near the Reedy Creek workers camp and have traditionally provided workers to the industry, so it makes sense that more local residents can apply for these regional jobs."
The Strong and Sustainable Resource Communities Act 2017 commenced on 30 March 2018 and applies to 61 large resource projects and their nearby regional communities.
This decision does not affect a decision regarding the request by APLNG for the continued use of worker camps for the project in the Maranoa Regional Council area, which is currently the subject of discussions between council and the proponent.
