Mon, 11 Jun 2012

The Australian Education, Employment and Workplace Relations ministry has committed to putting locals first for new jobs in the country’s mining boom.

This push sees the founding of a new Resources Sector Jobs Board as part of the government’s free jobs board, Australian JobSearch.

This follows controversy over the ministry’s decision to allow up to 1,715 foreign workers visas as part of a total of 8,000 workers expected to be employed by the new Roy Hill iron mining project.

“We are committed to putting Australian jobs first,” a statement from the government says, adding: “This government understands resources companies’ concerns that they may not be able to meet demand on all projects without using some temporary overseas workers.”