Australasian Mining Review
Issue link: http://ebook.aprs.com.au/i/37922
6 Foreword Few industries can equal the resources sector for its contribution to economic prosperity and employment. When you include oil and gas, around 200,000 people directly make their living from the resources and energy industries here in Australia. Our mineral exports are expected to bring in over $178 billion this fi nancial year. are 94 advanced projects in the resources sector including expansions in coal and iron ore. Between them, they are worth $173 billion. L Overall, new capital expenditure is the highest on record – nearly four times the average annual expenditure over the past 30 years. Continued exploration and the opening up of new mineral provinces, such as most recently the Woomera Prohibited Area, will help sustain this growth. Australia has good reason to be proud of its achievements in mining and of our investment pipeline. Success in delivering new projects on time and on budget depends on companies having access to suffi cient skills and labour. If we are to achieve our full potential, it is estimated that over 70,000 skilled positions will need to be fi lled by 2015. That is why in the context of a tight Budget the Government has still delivered measures to meet the needs of the resources industry. Our $3 billion Building Australia’s Future Workforce package will train and skill more Australians. Our increase in the skilled migration intake and introduction of Enterprise Migration agreements will help projects get off the ground and create more long term secure jobs on major projects across the country. Our Buy Australian at Home and Abroad initiative will help Australian suppliers and manufacturers connect with and secure more opportunities from resource and energy projects. The Government will work in partnership with industry to roll out these initiatives. And we welcome efforts from industry to also support skills and training as well as increase participation particularly from our Indigenous communities. Martin Ferguson AM MP Federal Member for Batman Minister for Resources and Energy Minister for Tourism Equally welcome is industry’s commitment to maintaining the highest standards of safety. Australia is a world leader in occupational health and safety performance in the mining industry. But we still have further to go to reach the goal of zero harm – a goal we all continue to pursue. Martin Ferguson was fi rst elected to the Federal Parliament in March 1996. Since being elected, Martin has served as a member of Labor’s front bench. Initially he was Shadow Minister for Employment and Training. Following the Australian Labor Party’s win in 2007, Martin has been appointed to Cabinet as Minister for Resources and Energy and Minister for Tourism. Martin has served on a number of Parliamentary Committees, including the House of Representatives Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Committee, the Employment and Training Committee, the Industry and Resources Committee and the Procedures and Privileges Committee. Prior to entering Parliament, Martin was the president of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (1990-96) and vice-president (1985-90). Martin joined the ACTU after 15 years service with the then Miscellaneous Workers’ Union. During this period, he worked as a Research Offi cer, was elected Assistant General Secretary in 1981 and fi nally as General Secretary in 1984. From 1990-96, Martin was a member of the governing body of the International Labor Organisation. He received an Order of Australia in June 1996 for his contribution to working people. Martin has an Honours Degree in Economics from Sydney University. He is married and has two adult children. Martin and his family live in Melbourne. iving from the resources and energy industries here in Australia. Our mineral exports are expected to bring in over $178 billion this fi nancial year. Much more investment lies ahead. There The National Mine Safety Framework brings us closer to achieving that. A more nationally consistent occupational health and safety regime aims to bring about the improvements we need. Greater consistency fosters labour mobility and greater certainty on legislative and regulatory responsibilities. Safety, skills, access to an appropriate workforce, investment in infrastructure – these are some of the key ingredients for the continued success of Australia’s mining industry. All Australians want to share in the benefi ts of a strong, modern economy and I will continue to work with industry to ensure that we maximise and share our nation’s economic potential.