The Miners' Union has welcomed the Senate's support today for a motion calling on the Morrison Government to crack down on the widespread use of 'permanent casual' employment in mining, which is out of control in Central Queensland.
A motion moved by Labor Senator Murray Watt was carried, despite the Government speaking against it.
The motion calls on the Senate to note the rapid growth of 'permanent casual' employment in mining and calls on the Morrison Government to withdraw from the WorkPac High Court case which seeks to deny compensation to full-time mineworkers unlawfully employed as casuals.
CFMEU Mining and Energy Queensland President Stephen Smyth said thousands of permanent jobs had been casualised across the state's coal fields and Queensland politicians needed to act urgently to stamp out the 'permanent casual' rort.
"We are disappointed the government spoke against it but pleased this common sense motion has been supported in the Senate," said Mr Smyth.
"We note that Queensland LNP Senator Matt Canavan was silent, but if he supports coal miners he should support its contents and urge the Morrison Government to withdraw its intervention in the High Court challenge."
CFMEU Mining and Energy is currently running the Protect Casual Miners campaign, urging politicians to resist employer lobbying to overturn new rights for long-term casual miners.
"The Federal Court has twice ruled that the 'permanent casual' employment model in mining is unlawful. All we are asking is for the Government to back in the court's decision and support permanent jobs with permanent entitlements for mineworkers."
Background about casuals in mining and the Federal Court decisions can be found here.
