A federal inquiry investigating the impact of FIFO and drive-in, drive-out work concluded its Victorian public hearings today following evidence from a handful of companies, including Rio Tinto.

With more than $500 billion worth of resource projects either committed or waiting construction, AMMA reiterated the importance of FIFO workers to Australia’s booming mining industry.

“FIFO is vital if Australian resource employers are to find the workers they need to deliver the economic and employment benefits of these new projects,” AMMA said in its submission.

“If the committee is to make any recommendations, it should be that greater collaboration between the local, state and federal governments on regional infrastructure and services would assist in attracting more people to regional areas that are heavily reliant on FIFO workers.”

AMMA executive director of industry Minna Knight said the resources industry was already heavily committed to improving the lives of people in regional communities by supporting organisations such as the Royal Flying Doctors Service and FIFO Families.

Addressing the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Regional Australia today, AMMA senior workplace advisor Lisa Mathews said FIFO workers were a key solution to the country’s ongoing skills shortage in the resource sector.

“FIFO working arrangements are undoubtedly helping to ease the effects of the current critical skills shortage and should be supported as part of a range of responses to the industry’s demand for skilled labour,” Mathews said.

“There is a need for sensible policy making from all levels of government in this area.”

In Rio’s submission to the inquiry, the mining giant said it recognised concerns in some areas about the growth of FIFO operations but believed they could be managed through consultation and cooperative engagement with regional communities and governments.

“FIFO/DIDO is an essential workforce arrangement for many construction, expansion and maintenance projects that require large numbers of specialised employees for limited periods of time,” Rio said.

“Any move to arbitrarily limit FIFO/DIDO or to compel companies to base residential workforces in locations that may not be optimal would seriously impact the sector’s ability to meet its labour needs and in some cases threaten project viability.”

The committee has travelled all across Australia from the Pilbara to the Bowen Basin to hear evidence from communities and organisations into the matter.