Taskforce Comes of Age

21 November 2009

The government’s much anticipated Resource Sector Employment taskforce is beginning to take shape after the announcement today of the taskforce’s make up.

Last month we found out that the Hon Gary Gray AO MP would be chairing the taskforce, reporting to both the Hon Senator Mark Abib and the Hon Martin Ferguson MP. The appointment of Mr Gray is an excellent one. Having worked as an executive with Woodside and spent much of his life in regional Australia he understands many of the workforce issues that our industry confronts.

Today it has been announced that the taskforces make up will be as follows:

Taskforce members:  Gary Gray (Chair)       Parliamentary Secretary for Western and Northern AustraliaBill Burmester          Dept of Education, Employment & Workplace RelationsJohn Hartwell           Department of Resources, Energy & TourismPeter Vardos            Department of Immigration & CitizenshipStephanie Foster        Department of Infrastructure, Transport & Regional DevelopmentRod Camm                Skills QueenslandPeter Conran            Department of Premier and Cabinet, Western AustraliaPhillip Bullock         Skills AustraliaKen Scott-Mackenzie     Industry representative Industry Reference Group members: Senator Glenn Sterle     Deputy Chair    Belinda Robinson        Aust Petroleum Production & Exploration AssociationChris Fraser            Minerals Council of Australia & Aust Mines & Metal AssociationJim Barrett             Australian Constructors AssociationJohn Sutton              Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy UnionJeff Lawrence           Australian Council of Trade UnionsPaul Howes              Australian Workers UnionDave Oliver             Australian Manufacturing Workers Union Skills Reference Group members: Glenn Withers           Universities AustraliaJames Barron            Group Training AustraliaRay Barker              SkillsDMCTony Noonan             Doorn-Dgil Yoordaning Mining & ConstructionAndrew Smith            Australian Council for Private Education & TrainingMartin Riordan  TAFE   Directors Australia 

It is excellent to see that government has managed to get so many senior and capable people on board as we look to develop a long-term term solution to the industry’s skills shortages. We very much look forward to the taskforce’s recommendations.