Australia’s resource sector is implementing strict national COVID-19 health and safety protocols in partnership with Australian governments to keep its workforce, families and communities safe and healthy and sites operating.
The MCA, state resources chambers and APPEA will work with all resources companies across Australia to continue the implementation of national COVID-19 resources industry protocols to protect the workforce and jobs by ensuring the highest levels of health and safety – the first priority of the resources sector.
Companies are moving to adopt the protocols already.
This follows the unanimous support for a co-ordinated national approach to ensuring continued operation of the resources sector as an essential industry by the nation’s resources ministers earlier this week.
The protocols also received broad support from the Commonwealth and all states and territories at a meeting of the Resources Sector National Coordination Mechanism during the week.
With Australian mining declared an essential industry, the industry acknowledges the strong and united support of Federal and state governments and their health advisers and will continue to work together on the movement of people across state borders and other priority issues.
Australia’s minerals companies will work with health officials, resources regulators, law enforcement, local government and others to ensure that all official advice and restrictions are observed across the supply chain.
A safe, healthy and resilient residential, fly in fly out (FIFO) and drive in drive out (DIDO) resources workforce which is able to live in and move in and out of regional and remote areas while observing strict health protocols will help the sector support all Australians and our national economy during and after the global COVID-19 pandemic.
Families, communities and small businesses across regional Australia and in our major cities depend on the mining industry.
The minerals sector is also an integral part of the complex supply chains for Australian manufacturing industries, a key element of the economy.
When Australia emerges from the immediate health impacts of COVID-19, a strong resources sector and a safe and healthy workforce will ensure Australia’s economic recovery is delivered speedily and widely.
