OPPOSITION leader Tim Nicholls says the state government’s $28 million North Stradbroke Island transition-from-mining package will be of little help to hundreds of miners who will lose jobs.
On a visit to the island, Mr Nicholls said worker assistance packages were not ready despite about 30 jobs being gone by Christmas.
“Straddie families and businesses are about to hit very rough waters thanks to the Palaszczuk Labor Government and locals are anxious and worried about their future,” Mr Nicholls said.
“Labor’s policy to shutdown sand mining by 2019 will kill hundreds of local jobs in Straddie’s second biggest industry and leave no time for the island’s economy to transition to other industries.’’
Mr Nicholls, who met with some locals, said families were on tenterhooks about their employment prospects.
“Straddie locals are ... feeling ignored and abandoned by Annastacia Palaszczuk and this Labor government,’’ he said.
“What will happen to Straddie mine workers when they lose their jobs? Where will they get work? How will they pay their mortgage? How will they keep food on the table?
“Annastacia Palaszczuk ... and Jackie Trad have promised the world to island locals and so far delivered nothing.”
A State Development Development spokesman said 12 workers took part in an information forum on the island on October 12 which included state and federal agencies including Centrelink and Federal Employment Department staff.
Subsequently, 11 were given an analysis of their skills, qualifications, individual circumstances and opportunities.
“One worker has commenced in a new job and three workers are in the process of accessing training...,’’ the spokesman said.
“Two workers have opted to retire and appointments have been facilitated with Centrelink to provide information on retirement assistance available.’’
A register of workers who attend the North Stradbroke Island office seeking assistance had been developed.
Cleveland MP Mark Robinson said his office had taken calls from worried workers.
“My office called Treasury who didn’t know anything,’’ he said. “The Department of Natural Resources and Mines also had no idea and then finally the Department of Employment said the promised $5 million worker assistance package wasn’t ready and that they weren’t even aware workers had been laid off.
“Not only that, with no certainty about their future operations, the mining company recently advised the community there will be an extended Christmas shutdown at the mine.
“Annastacia Palaszczuk shut down mining to keep her greenie Cabinet ministers in a job but she couldn’t care less about jobs on Stradbroke Island.’’
Australian Workers Union state secretary Ben Swan has been asked for comment.
In June Sibelco executive general manager John McBride said Sibelco was pausing production from December to February due to low prices. It also cut 45 jobs at its Rockhampton magnesia business.