Notice of Motion - Establishing new Caucus Sub-Committee
Date published :
29
May
2012
The "Spreading the Benefits of the Resources Boom
Sub-Committee"
Sub Committee of the Economic, Productivity, Innovation and
Industry Caucus Committee Caucus acknowledges that from time to
time there will be a need to supplement Australian labour on
resource construction projects under specific and strict
conditions. Notwithstanding this, Caucus notes the social, fiscal
and political challenges arising from the resources boom. In
particular, the high Australian dollar and the pressures on
non-resource industries including manufacturing, retail, tourism
and small business. Caucus is strongly of the view that it is in
the national interest to maintain and promote employment across
Australia's entire industry base. This can only be achieved by
spreading the wealth from the profits of the resources sector
across the whole community. Social justice and inclusion requires a
broad based and strong economy. This requires a sophisticated
economic and industry development strategy that ensures the
resources industry complements as distinct from displaces existing
industry sectors. The resources boom has been and will continue to
be a big positive for Australia, both in terms of increasing
incomes and creating jobs. It has also brought significant pressure
to bear on other parts of the economy, including through factors
like exchange rate pressure and competition for skilled labour. The
potential crowding out of key industries by the resource sector
requires a more considered and strategic analysis and response in
order to ensure that all Australians share in the wealth of the
nation. In the short term, the capacity to spread the wealth of the
mining boom requires continual monitoring of the effectiveness of
taxation arrangements along with a number of practical industry
development initiatives. Caucus notes the issues surrounding the
recent announcement to bring in 1700 semiskilled overseas workers
for the Roy Hill Mine in Western Australia. As the PM has said, the
priority for employment in the resources sector must continue to be
those Australians willing and capable of employment in the mining
industry.
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