Coronavirus: Mining, gas sectors may get COVID-19 ban exemption to keep working
The national cabinet will consider measures that allow the key sectors to work through the COVID-19 crisis.
The national cabinet will consider measures to ensure Australia’s mining and gas industries can continue operating through the COVID-19 crisis with state and territory travel bans impacting flights and non-essential staff.
Minerals Council of Australia chief executive Tania Constable said continuing the movement of essential operational staff was crucial in keeping the mining industry active as the nation faced economic shocks fanned by the coronavirus spread.
Federal, state and territory resources ministers met on Tuesday afternoon to negotiate a “co-ordinated national approach” in managing the impacts of COVID-19 on the mining and gas sectors.
Resources Minister Keith Pitt said Australia was fortunate that the mining and gas sectors were in “such a strong position heading into this crisis”.
“And with a united approach we can ensure it remains that way. Ministers discussed the need for a co-ordinated national approach to managing the impacts of COVID-19 in the resources sector,” Mr Pitt told The Australian.
“Governments and industry are working together to respond effectively to these unprecedented challenges.
“Ministers recognise the resources sector is essential to Australia’s economy. The maintenance of resources sector operations, in parallel to the implementation of new health measures, is a key priority.”
Mr Pitt said the resources industry would “play a lead role in our economic recovery” when the world emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The jobs it creates will be a lifeline to many regional communities,” he said.
Ms Constable, who has convened a COVID-19 working group consisting of senior executives from mining companies including BHP, Rio Tinto and Glencore, said the MCA had joined with APPEA and state resources organisations to back a united approach in protecting the resources sector.
“The overriding priorities and concerns for the industry remain protecting the health, safety and livelihoods of workers, contractors and communities, continuing the movement of essential operational staff, including between states and maintaining flight, rail and port networks to supply fuel, equipment and other critical inputs,” Ms Constable told The Australian.
“The sudden shift by different governments in recent days to place restrictions on movement of people across borders prompted the MCA to accelerate work on the national approach to the safe and efficient passage of essential workers and supplies for mining operations.
“This work is continuing with the MCA joining APPEA and state resources organisations in a united approach to the national cabinet on these vital issues.”
The MCA’s COVID-19 working group is looking at measures to ensure that vulnerable people in remote and regional communities are protected from the spread of coronavirus.
The national cabinet has exempted mine sites from its ban on gatherings of more than 100 people.
The Australian understands there are concerns in relation to travel bans and restrictions imposed by some states with FIFO flights and non-essential staff expected to be impacted.
Under current arrangements, critical operations on mine sites and oil and gas facilities will continue to operate.
