The Australian federal government has “washed its hands of regional Australia” by rejecting most of the recommendations of a Parliamentary inquiry led by former independent MP Tony Windsor into fly-in, fly-out (Fifo) mining employment, Australia’s Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) said in June.

CFMEU national president Tony Maher says Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s government’s response to the Windsor report, which was released in 2013, revealed it did not appreciate the scale of the damage caused by the growing insistence of big mining companies to employ itinerant workforces over local workforces and the damage being done to vital local businesses by companies refusing to source their goods and services at competitive rates.

“Central Queensland is being smashed by unrestrained Fifo [employment] and governments who ignore the problem will feel the wrath of voters,” says Maher.

He adds that the current situation has left skilled and experienced mineworkers living jobless in mining regions “because mining companies insist 100% of their employees must fly in from the big cities.

“Once thriving communities are now hurting as whole families are forced to pack up and move out of town to find jobs, and local businesses are shutting down,” Maher laments.

He states that the Windsor report provided a “clear path to mitigate the fallout for workers, families and communities”; however, the Australian government has rejected most of the Windsor report’s 21 recommendations, including measures designed to build the capacity of local government in regions heavily affected by Fifo practices and help small business engage with the resources sector.

“The government needs to stop pandering to the mining companies and start paying attention to circumstances of workers and regional communities on the ground,” says Maher.

He warns that the Abbot-led government could face losing significant voter support from central Queensland residents if it continues to ignore regional communities.