Mackay’s Resource Industry Network and mining union the CFMEU are among those due to front a public hearing today by the Senate Select Committee on Job Security.

The committee is tasked with inquiring into and reporting on the impact of insecure or precarious employment on the economy, wages, social cohesion and workplace rights and conditions.

Casualisation of the workforce has been a hot-button issue in the Central Queensland coalfields, with the CFMEU campaigning to end what it describes as ‘the permanent casual rort’.

CFMEU general president Tony Maher said there was some dispute over the rate of casualisation in the mining industry.

“While the Minerals Council cites ABS data that has it at 16 per cent, it is the lived experience of members of
this union that casual labour hire is easily around 30 per cent of all coal mining jobs in New South Wales and is routinely over 50 per cent in Queensland,” he said in a written submission to the committee.

“The reason for this discrepancy between the official data and lived experience is not known. One possible reason is that casual labour hire in mining may not be classified by the labour hire providers as work in the mining industry.”

The Minerals Council of Australia submission states that higher median wages were paid to mining casuals compared to full-time workers across all industries in 2019

“Australia needs a modern and flexible workplace system that attracts investment, creates and preserves jobs, supports communities and contributes to national prosperity,” it said.

One Key Resources, Mackay Regional Council, the Queensland Council of Unions and Hays Recruitment are also among the parties due to give evidence today.

A public hearing tomorrow will include a mining industry panel including the Minerals Council of Australia, Anglo American, BHP and Rio Tinto.

The Isaac Regional Council and Moranbah businesses and other local organisations are also due to give evidence Wednesday.