The Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia (CME) expressed disappointment with the National Party’s announcement for an additional levy on the resource sector.
CME Director Nicole Roocke said the resource sector’s major challenge is the rising cost of doing business in Western Australia.
“Unfortunately we are becoming a less attractive place to develop resources projects when compared with global resource rich nations and investment may be driven to other, lower cost, regions because of additional layers of taxation and charges which are continuing to drive up cost for doing business,” Ms Roocke said
“Claims the resources sector doesn’t train enough people is not backed up by recent National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) data which clearly busts the myths the resources sector isn’t committed to training a future workforce,” Ms Roocke said.
Among the findings, the NCVER data shows the total number of WA apprentices and trainees in mining, oil and gas had increased 42 per cent in the past two years (2010-2012). WA resource sector apprentices and trainees account for 10 per cent of the total number of apprentices and trainees, which reflects the sector’s approximate workforce composition in WA.
These findings are further supported by the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics Census data which shows the apprentice training effort in the mining industry was above the all industry average for Western Australia.
“Official statistics have not captured the investment made in graduate programs, vacation work, indigenous work ready programs and safety programs. All of these programs ensure our workforce is equipped with the right skills,” Ms Roocke said
Further, claims the resource sector does not contribute to the Construction Training Fund are factually incorrect. Resource companies contribute to the fund for the construction of houses, accommodation and commercial buildings.
CME are urging all parties and candidates involved to focus on policy solutions which can ease the cost pressures faced by industry. Sensible policy initiatives in this area are the only way to ensure costs of resources projects remain competitive to ensure the next wave of investment yet to be committed will return the economic benefit to all Western Australians going forward.