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Category: Unemployment / Mining Industry / Federal - State Issues

Sacked Queensland Nickel workers worried they may need to leave Townsville

Tuesday, 2 Feb 2016 10:39:38 | Isobel Roe

Security officers in southwestern Chongqing City parade holding placards that urge locals to avoid drinking and driving. China designated yesterday — September 9, or 9/9 — as “No Drunk Driving Day” because 9/9 in Chinese sounds similar to jiu, the Chinese word for alcohol. All drunk-driving problems now constitute a criminal offense and China has come down hard on the issue, with punishments that include revoking licenses and hefty fines for offenders. — Xinhua

Workers sacked from Federal MP Clive Palmer's Queensland Nickel fear they may have to leave Townsville to support their families.

Dozens of former employees who are now looking for work attended a Queensland Government forum in the north Queensland city today to get more information about assistance packages for redundant workers.

The event was attended by recruitment agents from the Australian Defence Force, the Queensland Police Service and other local employers.

The State Government announced last month it would accelerate plans for capital works in North Queensland to create jobs.

Tanya Strixner-Harvey was one of the 237 workers sacked from the refinery two weeks ago, shortly before the business was put into voluntary administration.

She worked at the refinery for seven years, most recently as a project manager.

I've seen FIFO dads and I think being a FIFO mum would be even harder.

Tanya Strixner-Harvey

"For my type of skill set, unfortunately it's very rare to find a position like I was in," she said.

"From my point of view, if I can't find anything in Townsville I'll actually have to move or do some sort of FIFO [fly-in-fly-out].

"I've seen FIFO dads and I think being a FIFO mum would be even harder.

"I dread the thought of having to do that."

Ms Strixner-Harvey said she still hoped she could find another Townsville employer who needed someone with her skills.

"There's a lot of expectations around skills matching amongst the redundant staff to see if there's an opportunity for us to come on board to any sort of project that's being fast-tracked, so in that sense I'm hopeful there.

Jean Francis said it had been a blow to his dignity to lose his job at Queensland Nickel. Photo: Jean Francis said it had been a blow to his dignity to lose his job at Queensland Nickel. (ABC News: Isobel Roe)

"I'm a sole breadwinner for the family … so unfortunately I'm going to have to find something otherwise we're going to run out of money."

Jean Francis lost his job at Queensland Nickel after 16 years as a turbine boiler operator.

"It's been devastating in regards to dignity," he said.

"I feel for those guys that have got young families … they're the ones suffering in relation to bills."

Mr Francis said he was worried about the lack of local jobs in the mining industry, but did not want to have to leave his family behind in Townsville to find work elsewhere.

"There is work out there but to get that work you're going to have to move away from Townsville," he said.

"If you're lucky you know someone that's in the industry that can get you into work."

Administrators FTI Consulting, who are still dissecting Queensland Nickel's financial situation, have not yet informed workers whether their entitlements will be paid out.

The training that's been talked about I'm yet to actually see it being offered.

Jean Francis

Mr Francis said many of his former colleagues would need the payments to feed their children.

"It would be nice to get that ... but I'm not depending on it. I know a lot of them would be depending on it for sure.

"It would be nice if Clive [Palmer] pays his dues."

Mr Francis said he hoped the State Government assistance package would offer re-skilling so people did not have to leave their families.

"The training that's been talked about I'm yet to actually see it being offered. That's what I'm here this morning for to find out what is being offered."

Member for Townsville Scott Stewart said workers would need to re-skill in other industries.

"We're offering a range of support packages — particularly with that one on one connection with people — so it helps them prepare for the next steps and re-engaging with either training or education possibilities and future employment," he said.

"The workforce continues to evolve and change over time, and particularly when we're looking at the introduction of the NDIS [National Disability Insurance Scheme] here in Townsville that will create hundreds of jobs."

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