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FIFO Should I stay or should I go? Âť Â Â Special report page 4-5

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Shift Miner Magazine

CONTENTS NEWS

-5 FIFO special report 4 6 Rocky jobs go 7 Adult apprenticeships die off with downturn

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8 9

Miners powers stripped

9

CSG workers to remain part of the CQ landscape

EOI closes on Galilee mega mine

10 Scaremongering over

13 21

457 visas rampant

11 TIER 1 contractors

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told cut costs, or go

12 Redundant from the start?

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Regulars

16 Stuff to the editor 17 Frank the Tank 18 Miners Trader 19 Off Shift 22 Sport

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FIFO report

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Return of the resident miner?

MINING towns should not be left to die off despite the increasing popularity of the FIFO roster.

That’s the opinion of Queensland Resources Council (QRC) chief executive Michael Roche, who has strongly urged the state government to increase funding to the Bowen Basin.

The QRC has long advocated that workers should have a choice between living locally or commuting by car or plane.

A survey commissioned by the QRC two years ago asked more than 2000 miners how they made that choice.

“Resident workers like being resident workers because it suits their lifestyle and family arrangements,” Mr Roche told the Bowen Basin Mining Club lunch in Moranbah last week.

“Equally, non-resident workers prefer the commuting option because it suits their lifestyle and family arrangements.

“These survey results signalled… that if residential

and non-residential options were not offered, a significant number of people would choose not to work in the sector.”

But now Mr Roche says that balancing act is being threatened because the region doesn’t have the social infrastructure required to make living locally attractive.

“Not everyone wants to be a commuting worker,” Mr Roche reiterated.

“What we don’t want to see are workers and their families choosing the commuting option by default because of a lack of key services in resource communities.”

In a pre-budget submission to the state government, Mr Roche has urged the Treasurer Tim Nicholls to bring forward funding already allocated in the Royalties for Regions program.

Mr Roche said the extra money was vital given the region had routinely missed out on traditional government funding because of poor planning and data collection that did not take into account

the growing non-resident workforce.

“It has resulted in reduced community amenity and a loss of attractiveness to people considering the residential lifestyle options,” he told.

The FIFO issue has made headlines of late because two new BMA mines in the Bowen Basin are now 100 per cent FIFO operations, drawing their workforce from Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast and Cairns.

The mines were planned at time where there was an intense skills shortage, but are now operating in a downturn and local, retrenched miners are angry they are excluded from applying for jobs at the two sites.

However, CQUniversity Professor of resource economics John Rolfe said this was not the start of an industry-wide trend to FIFO, and locals shouldn’t be too concerned.

“Daunia and Caval Ridge were planned at the height of the mining boom when there was a workforce shortage

looming and BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) wanted to expand the pool of workers,” Professor Rolfe said.

“The majority of mines in the Bowen Basin draw their workforce from the local and regional areas, and this will remain the dominant pattern into the future.”

Recruiters agree that locals - not FIFO workers - are still the preferred option in the Queensland resources sector.

Workpac general manager of operations Cameron Hockaday said employers were still looking locally, not because of any philosophical preference, but simply because of the productive advantages.

“The message we are getting is definitely that there is a desire to support local engagement,” Mr Hockaday told Shift Miner recently.

“It is genuinely a big criteria when we try and recruit people. Our customers want a workforce living close to the site, preferably in a local town, turning up on time

and fresh for work.”

The downturn has had the positive side effect of bringing down the ludicrously high rents that plagued resources towns at the height of the boom.

The Dysart Community and Business Group’s John Crooks said that increased affordability was bringing new people to the region.

“I think a lot of miners are sick of travelling to work, and some people - like me - married their wives to live with them, so they are moving back to Dysart,” he told Shift Miner.

Mr Roche said it now the turn of government to step up and help fund the future of mining towns, as resource companies have done a lot of the heavylifting in recent years.

“There are numerous examples of where resources companies have been forced to play the inappropriate role of providing core government services, including providing housing for government employees,” he said.

FIFO not a long-term concern: CQU THE fact that two of the newer Central Queensland mines were established to FIFO workforces drawn from Cairns and SouthEast Queensland should not be a concern for Central Queensland in the longer-term.

That’s according to CQUniversity Professor of Resource Economics John Rolfe, who says the conditions driving that workforce decision have changed.

“Daunia and Caval Ridge were planned at the height of the mining boom when there was a workforce shortage looming and BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) wanted to expand the pool of

workers,” Professor Rolfe said.

“The majority of mines in the Bowen Basin draw their workforce from the local and regional areas, and this will remain the dominant pattern into the future.”

Professor Rolfe said in the longerterm, mining companies were keen on expanding the diversity of backgrounds and training of employees rather than their geographical location, including bringing more women into the workforce.

“With coal production in the CQ region continuing to expand, there will be plenty of opportunities for CQ locals from all

walks of life who are keen to train up for diverse roles in the industry,” he said.

“However, the increasing focuses on productivity, safety and automation, just to name three underlying drivers in the industry, means that the workforce of the future will need to be more qualified and specialised than in the past.”

Further improving training and education opportunities in the region is one of the most important ways that Central Queensland can position itself as the workforce base for the Bowen Basin, Professor Rolfe said.

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CQ pollies unite on FIFO

By Alex Graham THERE’S not a state or federal MP in Central Queensland who wants 100 per cent FIFO at Bowen Basin mines from outside the region - but there’s no clear strategy to address it.

Central Queensland MPs are now reporting that local, retrenched miners are being refused to be considered for jobs at two new BMA mines - Daunia and Caval Ridge - because they don’t live in the recruitment catchment areas of Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast or Cairns.

Deputy state opposition leader and Member for Mackay Tim Mulherin has labelled it “postcode apartheid” and has blamed the Newman Government for a broken election promise, rejecting 100 per cent FIFO mining operations.

However, the decision to allow the mines to proceed as 100 per cent FIFO operations was made under the former Bligh Labor government, in which Mr Mulherin was a cabinet minister.

The federal members for Dawson and Capricornia, George Christensen and Michelle Landry,

have added their voice to the campaign against 100 per cent FIFO from outside of the region.

“At the height of the boom 100 per cent FIFO made sense, but in the current climate 100 per cent FIFO is simply not needed at all,” Mr Christensen told federal parliament this week.

He’s appealing to BMA to change tack.

“The damage was done by Labor but it can be fixed by BMA,” he said.

“I hope BMA will see sense on the issue and allow locals to work in the local mine.”

BMA has twice cancelled meetings with Mr Christensen and Ms Landry in the past fortnight to discuss the issue. However, in a telephone hook-up with Ms Landry this week BMA representatives pushed the case that FIFO was helping to address high unemployment in areas like Cairns.

“But there is high unemployment in our area too,” said Ms Landry.

“I’m not against FIFO because I want them [mining companies] to do it from Rockhampton and Mackay, but it shouldn’t be Brisbane, the

Sunshine Coast and Cairns.

“Central Queensland is taking the brunt of these extra people in our rural communities, using water and roads and other facilities and so they should also enjoy the financial benefits.”

However, Ms Landry acknowledged neither the state nor federal government could act to change the situation at the Caval Ridge or Daunia mines now.

“BMA have been given their approval and the government can’t step in now and say no,” she said.

BMA currently has an application before the state Coordinator General for a mining development that includes the giant Red Hill mine and associated accommodation camp near Moranbah.

It is up to the Coordinator General to decide what conditions are imposed on the project.

Ms Landry is seeking a meeting with the Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney and Mines Minister Andrew Cripps to discuss the issue.

Comment or SMS 0409 471 014

FIFO report Thermal bullish QUEENSLAND Resources Council’s Michael Roche says the tide is turning and analysts are bullish on thermal coal seaborne markets beyond 2014 as coal is resurging globally.

He cited a long list of reasons for the resurgence, including that carbon pricing is dead or dying in most jurisdictions and economic growth in Asia is still in the early stages of development - particularly in China and India.

“Thermal coal remains, for large parts of the globe, both the cheapest and most widely available fossil fuel for power generation,” he said.

“Across Asia it is estimated around 670GW of new coal-fired capacity will commence operations by 2020, requiring another 2.35 billion tonnes of thermal coal.”

Mr Roche said while China would be the key driver, India’s growth is very strong and other Asian markets are also becoming prominent.

31st March 2014

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News

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Commissioner warns Qld contractors to stay safe Joyless task

QUEENSLAND’S commissioner for mine safety and health Stewart Bell has sounded a warning for all contractors.

In the past seven months, eight people have died on mine sites across Australia - and five of them were contractors.

None of the fatalities occurred in Queensland, but Commissioner Bell has put out a safety alert for all miners highlighting the deaths because he does not want Queensland to follow suit.

“If you look at fatalities over past 10 years within Australia, it is usually a contractor,” Mr Bell told Shift Miner.

“We have a situation of someone inexperienced working

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31st March 2014

alongside of experienced and not understanding the risk.”

Mr Bell said the overrepresentation of contractors in mining deaths is not an issue for Queensland at the moment.

He said that unlike other states, Queensland’s specific health and safety legislation covers everyone working at a mining site, not just those employed by the mine.

Elsewhere, other states are considering changing legislation to bring it into line with Queensland.

“What we’ve been doing is looking at contractor management. Under legislation you need to have someone on board to manage contractors and

ensure they are properly inducted and trained to do their work,” Mr Bell said.

The Queensland government is also in the process of reviewing its mining safety laws, with the Minister Andrew Cripps expected to announce final changes later this year.

“As far as I am concerned, we had legislation that was pretty damned good, and about 90 per cent of it will stay the same,” said Commissioner Bell.

“When I talk to anyone, I tell them the focus of the mine inspectorate is to get everyone home safely at the end of the day, whether they are a contractor or an employee.”

Meanwhile, Safe Work Australia analyst Fleur de Crespigny told media there was no reason for concern regarding contractor deaths across Australia.

“There were nine fatalities in 2013. Of those, seven were people employed in the mining industry and two were labour hire staff working on mine sites.

“It actually compared quite well to the previous four years.

“If you consider there’s been a really large increase

in employment in the mining industry, this is actually a pretty good result.”

Some of the proposed reforms to Queensland’s mine safety legislation include: • an increase in the number of coal industry safety and health representatives from three to four; • clarification of the role of industry safety and health representatives; • all mines required to have a single safety and health management system that covers both company employees and contractors; • key safety positions at mine sites to become statutory roles with a Board of Examiners competency certificate required; improved stone dusting and water barrier requirements for underground coal operations to further minimise the risk of fire or explosion; • and standardising the management for fatigue, drugs, alcohol and fitness for work across both the quarry and coal sectors.

Comment or SMS 0409 471 014

as 25 let go

TWENTY-FIVE jobs will go from mining machinery business JoyGlobal’s Parkhurst plant in Rockhampton.

Shift Miner broke the story of job in early March when the company’s 120 Rockhampton employees were first told of the cuts.

The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union’s Peter Lyons has confirmed 25 jobs will go, and says most are full-time positions, although there are some casual, parttimers and apprentices.

“Unfortunately for the people who have been laid off it’ll be a terrible kick in the guts for them,” he told the ABC. Mr Lyons said the workers were devastated.

“Pretty well shattered – they’ve been on tenterhooks all week as the process has been evolving,” he said.

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Adult apprenticeships die off with downturn

IT’S been 12 months of highs and lows for the creator of an adult apprenticeship program designed to plug the skills gap in Queensland’s booming resources sector.

When Alan Sparks launched the National Apprenticeships Program (NAP) back in 2011, it was with state and federal government support and funding, and endorsed as an innovative and practical solution to meet the skills crisis.

Big name clients including Bechtel, John Holland, Leightons and Anglo American signed up for the program, and to date 240 people are either still working

in the scheme or have passed successfully through it.

But the downturn has killed off interest in the program, because companies are simply not looking to hire.

“It’s been an excellent eight months in one sense because we have been able to demonstrate what this program has in terms of potential and what it can offer,” Mr Sparks told Shift Miner.

“We are running at a 96 per cent retention rate, which compared to historical data that has cancellations and attrition at about 50 to 60 per cent [for apprenticeships]; that is a great outcome.”

Mr Sparks said the program has produced the next generation of leaders on some sites.

“All of Anglo’s graduates were offered full-time employment and one is now a leading hand just 12 months later.”

The program is based on the concept of Recognised Prior Learning (RPL), which allows eligible adult apprentices to fast track their training by taking into account their current level of skills and expertise.

So far, more than 22,000 formal competencies have been ticked off using RPL in the program, costing a fraction of what it would under normal circumstances.

“Those 22,081 competencies have been delivered at around 10 per cent of the normal cost of delivering competencies in a normal trade training program,” said Mr Sparks.

However, the downturn has simply turned the tap off for demand. While Mr Sparks says he is in talks with several companies about new intakes, there have been no concrete agreements.

“There is an element of frustration because we know what we have in terms of a very

valuable contributor to national workforces and we’ve been able to demonstrate that,” he said.

“We’ve also been about to demonstrate the extent of the talent pool, with just short of 10,000 Australians registering for the program and 2700 who would be eligible to step into a selection process when an employer says they are willing.

“But at the end of the day it’s industry and business that offer the job placements.”

Mr Sparks remains optimistic that 2014 will be a better year, and believes NAP’s ability to offer a unique solution to a common workplace problem will make it valuable to employers in the long term.

“With the retirement of baby boomers, we are losing people with 30 to 40 years of experience and that can be mitigated to a certain extent by this program where participants are an average age of 33 years and so have about 15 years of life and work experience.

“That’s a significant contribution to any workforce.”

Comment or SMS 0409 471 014

Six of the best

SIX resource industry experts have been selected to work with the Queensland government to help drive growth and jobs in the sector over the next 30 years.

Mines Minister Andrew Cripps said he wanted Queensland’s resources industry to be a world leader, so it was vital to have an economically strong, competitive and innovative industry into the future.

The group will be chaired by Steve de Kruijff, former chief operating officer of Xstrata’s North Queensland Copper Division and former Queensland Resources Council President.

The other group members are: • Dr Laurie Hammond: chair of CRC Mining, an industrydriven centre for global mining research and innovation; • Theo Psaros: leading transport infrastructure consultant and former chief operating officer of MetroCoal; • Brendan Ostwald: CEO of mining services company Ostwald Bros; • Gavin Becker: former CEO of Metallica Minerals; • Dr Julie Beeby: Queensland Resource Industry Ambassador since 2009 and former CEO of WestSide Corporation.

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In 2013 Moranbah North mine won Coal Mine of the Year at the Annual Mining Prospect Awards for the dramatic transformation that has taken place over the past 20 months. Moranbah North’s Coal Handling Preparation Plant was also a winner in the Minerals Processing Plant of the Year category for their six year Lost Time Injury Free performance.

Anglo American is looking for experienced people who want to further their career and develop their talents within our organisation. We currently have vacancies in the following roles:

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To fulfil your true potential apply, quoting the relevant reference number, online at www.angloamerican.com.au

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31st March 2014

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Miners’ powers stripped MINERS are set to lose a significant trump card used in land battles with farmers with new planning laws now passed through state parliament.

The Regional Planning Interests Bill was debated in parliament this week, and Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney told Shift Miner it’s designed to address the power imbalance between landholders and mining companies during negotiations.

“Under the bill, resource proponents proposing activities in a Priority Agricultural Area or on strategic cropping land will be stripped of the power to take landholders to the Land Court if an agreement cannot be reached within 40 days,” he said.

In addition, the automatic right to start a project after 40 days will also be removed.

“This is significant because it removes the psychological lever that mining companies have held over landholders to date and provides a more equitable playing field for negotiations,” Mr Seeney said.

The new laws are designed to

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31st March 2014

protect regional Queensland’s most productive, intensively farmed land and priority living areas and is in addition to the protection currently provided under Strategic Cropping laws.

“Any resource development seeking to operate in a priority agricultural area will need to meet co-existence criteria ensuring no material loss of land, no threat to continued agricultural use and no material impact on irrigation aquifers or overland flow,” Mr Seeney said.

These assurances do not wash with one landholder in the Darling Downs region of Acland and Oakey, where mining company New Acland is looking to expand its New Hope mine.

Oakey farmer and veterinarian Nicki Laws said the government is allowing strategic cropping land to be destroyed and reneging on an election promise to not allow the mine expansion.

“This project is so bad it is a litmus test for the democratic process and fair government process,” she said.

Dr Laws said the government

was constantly changing the rules, making it difficult for landowners and the community and adding to feelings of uncertainty.

“The Regional Protection Plan was meant to protect landowners from mining interests, but now they are talking about coexistence.”

Dr Laws said Mr Seeney’s proposed new bill that will allow only residents object to a potential mine, further eroding the level playing field.

“There is no one left in Acland to object to this mine expansion.

There are only a couple of families left, but the rest have been bought out.”

Dr Laws said New Acland mine would take over 1360 hectares of what had been labelled strategic cropping land, but the government granted an exemption.

“We are seeing the destruction of strategic cropping land that can be farmed every year for years for a 15-year project.

“We think that is a no-go zone as good strategic cropping is only

4 per cent of the state.”

“There are so many impacts on water and flood risk, loss of agricultural land and human rights - the fact there are still people living there,” Dr Laws said.

Mr Seeney told Shift Miner the government has honoured its 2012 promise that it would not support New Acland’s expansion plans.

“No decision has yet been made yet on the New Acland Stage 3 project and all impacts on agricultural land, water and the community will be thoroughly assessed by Queensland’s independent Coordinator General before he makes his decision,” he said.

“The new proposal we asked the independent Coordinator General to cautiously consider is a vastly changed proposal, which reduces the project’s footprint by 60 percent, or 2200 hectares.”

Mr Seeney said the project also differs from the original proposal in that it is significantly smaller and will not be over the town of Acland.

News Aurizon passes on flood costs

RAIL company Aurizon has increased its estimates of the cost of flood damage to its central Queensland coal network last January.

The company had applied to the Queensland Competition Authority (QCA) to vary its tariffs to take into account the impact of the floods.

Last year, it had estimated the damage bill to be $17 million, but that has now been revised up to $18.6 million. About $10.5 million of the damage was recorded on the Blackwater system, and another $8 million on the Moura line.

The QCA is seeking submissions from stakeholders before making a decision.

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EOI closes on Galilee mega mine camps

By Angus Peacocke

LONG WAY TO PORT: Adani is one of the last major investors in Abbot Point coal terminal

INDIAN resources giant Adani remains tightlipped about the progress of its massive Galilee coal tenements despite a call for expressions of interest (EOI) in supplying accommodation to the project closing last week.

Rumours the company was starting to move on the long-awaited Carmichael coal project were rife this month after Adani called for EOIs in the building, designing and operation of the mining camps at the site.

The company was also seeking EOIs from businesses interested in supplying secondary services, such as security, waste

removal and transportation.

Given the isolation of the proposed mine, 160 kilometres north-west of Clermont, and with Adani forecasting around 6000 construction workers and 3000 operational staff, building accommodation would be a massive first step.

The EOI period has now closed, but despite numerous requests from Shift Miner Adani is yet to give a clear indication about the size or timing of the work.

At full production the Carmichael coal project would pump out more than 60 million tonnes of thermal coal a year, and

have a total life of around 90 years.

Estimates of the value of the project, including a rail line to the coast, have ranged between $7 and $16 billion.

Adani had planned to begin building about 12 months ago but is still going through the approvals process and has also been delayed by softer thermal coal prices and allegations of financing difficulties in India.

Recent media reports quoting unnamed sources have claimed Adani is seeking investment from Chinese companies to get the massive project off the ground. However,

these reports have not been confirmed.

According to Adani, it will now move onto the second phase of the procurement process and request fully-costed proposals from a shortlisted group of respondents.

In other Galilee basin news the public submission period for the Galilee Basin State Development Area (SDA) closed on Friday.

The SDA - when approved - will be the corridor through which coal is railed to Abbot Point coal terminal for export.

However graziers whose land will be affected by the rail line have asked for an extension on the submission period.

“The only thing we can do is ask for an extension of time for the submissions,” said grazier John Burnett.

“If landholders can’t get the questions answered, how are they going to write a credible submission, and if the officers in the department can’t answer those questions how are they going to respond to the submissions that landholders send in?”

Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney said he’s willing to continue discussions “I’m happy to keep talking to landholders and interest groups about the proposition for as long as is necessary,” he told the ABC. “There has been a deadline in the formal process but I’m prepared to continue discussions way past that deadline until such time as all of the issues that are relevant have been fully discussed and fully explored.”

CSG workers to remain part of the CQ landscape CSG businesses have dismissed the popular myth that their workforce in the Surat Basin will all but disappear following the completion of major pipeline infrastructure.

Workforce planning was a key issue for discussion at a GasFields Commission meeting in Chinchilla, with a range of organisations seeking clarity on what they should be planning for.

While there is going to be a reduction - possibly as high as 50 per cent - GasFields Commissioner John Cotter said the industry was likely to

have a large presence in the region for a long time yet.

“What we are trying to clarify is this body of misinformed opinion that with some of the major infrastructure now built, the entire workforce is going to up and leave for good,” he said.

“I think there is range of people who have an opinion on this issue and it is not necessarily based on factual information.

“The companies are saying that at a minimum, half of what is currently there will remain, but even they are

unsure of when and where they will be winding up the work.”

Unlike the coal sector, the CSG construction workforce is typified by a high degree of mobility, evidenced by the fact that the majority of mining camps house fewer than 100 people and are mobile.

This mobility is meaning the workforce may not be disappearing, but simply heading north to new gas fields and new infrastructure work.

“There is still lots more infrastructure to be built,” Mr Cotter said.

“If you look at each of the companies’ tenements, they still have lots of drilling and wells to build, and it’s not just a matter of drilling the well, there is lots of associated infrastructure.

“For instance QGC’s new field is in Wandoan, and a lot of their workforce is moving north to develop it.”

It was also noted that while camp accommodation would remain during the well development stage, it was expected that operational employees and their families would be housed locally.

31st March 2014

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Scaremongering over 457 visas rampant

By Inga Stünzner

A MEDIA frenzy earlier this month followed the federal government’s decision to remove the cap on the number of foreign workers allowed by one employer, and attention turned to Bechtel.

A letter between Bechtel and the Australian Manufacturing and Workers Union leaked on Facebook reveals the construction giant will be sourcing between 120 and 150 pipe-fitting and special-class welders from Ireland

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31st March 2014

and England.

Some locals reacted angrily online, stating they had the relevant skills and accused the construction giant of ignoring them.

However, Bechtel told Shift Miner these are highly specialist positions and recruiters had travelled over Australia looking for the right people.

“To date we have employed less than 30 expat specialist tradespeople into critical roles that

we haven’t been able to fill within Australia,” Bechtel Gladstone general manager Kevin Berg said.

Mr Berg said bringing in an expat specialist was a last option as it was hugely expensive, and these particular positions will be needed for six to nine months.

The company currently employs 11,000 and the expat tradespeople sought from the UK and Ireland will represent less than 1 per cent of the workforce.

“Right now, we have more than 5000 local Gladstone residents working for us on these projects.

It’s a bit hard to swallow the claim that we aren’t employing locals on these projects.”

Mr Berg said the letter showed clearly the level of engagement that had taken place between Bechtel and the union.

“The letter was written by me to the union representative that has coverage over the trades being recruited as a show of faith and open communication to clearly outline how carefully we will manage this process.”

Migration consultant Chris Carman from Carman &

Associates said the furore over 457 visas is scaremongering.

He said businesses will always employ locals first because of the costs associated with employing someone on a 457 visa.

“I think generally the 457 program generically is working well and no one should be scared.

People should ask themselves where would Australia be if you took it away?”

Mr Carman said removing the cap is a non-issue.

“The Howard Government had the cap in place and then it was removed by the Labor Government in 2009 and rightly so as there are other mechanisms in 457 visas that mean employers will not abuse it.”

The Gillard government put the cap on in 2011.

Statistics gathered by Energy Skills Queensland reveal that just above 1 per cent of the current workforce are skilled migrants used to fill the gap between skills required by organisations and skills available in the labour market.

The organisation’s 2013 report sampled 30,500 workers,

representing 58 per cent of the entire comparative mining workforce, consisting of the coal, metal and other mining sectors.

It found 457 visa holders have an average length of service of two years, much lower than the wider sector average of 5.5 years.

Workers are predominantly employed as engineers, geoscientists and fitters - the most critical industry skills and 69 per cent live less than 100km from their work.

Mr Carmen said he is seeing a need for skilled migrants in the gas industry because Australia’s industry is relatively young.

“Anyone with gas experience would have been absorbed by those projects in 2010 and because projects like this have only seen overseas in place like the Middle East, etc, the people in these areas will only come from overseas.”

“These are not transferrable skills, so the gas industry will still be reliant on niche skills from overseas,” Mr Carman said.

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TIER 1 contractors told cut costs, or go

By Alex Graham

TIER 1 contractors are bearing the brunt of the coal downturn as mining companies force down prices to maintain profit margins, according to the mining union.

Over the past 12 months Shift Miner has run a series of stories documenting how the downturn has seen contracts between mining companies and smaller supply chain businesses torn up overnight and contractors being asked to do the same job for less.

Now, it’s been revealed it’s also happening at the big end of town to tier 1 contractors running mine

sites in the Bowen Basin.

“One company went to a tier 1 contractor and told them they wanted to maintain current profit levels,” the CFMEU’s Steve Pierce told Shift Miner.

“They told them they’d need to cut operating costs by 10 per cent and employee wages by 15 per cent to do it, and if they didn’t they’d get someone else in to run the pit.”

In some instances, tier 1 contractors have worked alongside the union to implement changes rather than cut jobs.

“We’ve sat down and

identified a bag-load of savings like different shift organisation so there is a better hand-over; different fuelling arrangements so machinery is down less; and using different suppliers because they can deliver on time.”

Mr Pierce said mining companies were also pitting tier 1 contractors against new, smaller and untried contracting companies that have sprung up in the downturn and are offering cut-price labour solutions.

“Mining companies are saying, ‘well they [new contractors] can do it for a thrip and ha’penny and half a licked Mars bar, why can’t you?’ Even though they have no runs on the board, no proven track record and no guarantee they can do the work safely.”

Mr Pierce said the new operating climate had nothing to do with job satisfaction.

“Some of these business relationships stretch back for years and the companies are saying, ‘we love the work you’re doing, but we need you to do it for less.’ The arrogance and greed mining companies are showing, I’ve never seen it before, and I have been in the industry for 35

years. It’s disgusting.”

Mr Pierce said the biggest issue facing coal companies trying to keep costs down was incompetent managers out on site who lack the logistical knowhow to ride out a downturn.

“We have managers who just cannot deal with a restrained budget,” he said. “They are used to a climate where if you need two trucks you buy 15. Now you need two trucks but you can only buy one and you have to fix another one up.”

Mr Pierce said the new-wave of young, inexperienced managers was to blame for many unnecessary lay-offs over the past 18 months.

“Old managers knew how to scrimp and save and properly utilise the resources at pit - and by that I mean equipment and people. These new managers are used to a climate where if you couldn’t get the job done you just put on another 60 people, or brought in a new truck.

“These are managers who have never had to be properly fiscally accountable for their pit. They’ve been out there spending like drunken sailors and now that the industry has cooled down they don’t know how to properly run it.”

News $55m oil recycling plant opens A $55 million oil recycling plant opened in Gladstone has the potential to process 100 per cent of Queensland’s annual production of waste lube oil.

The Northern Oil Refinery is a joint venture between JJ Richards & Sons and the Southern Oil Refinery (SOR) and will be the only used oil rerefining facility in Queensland capable of recycling waste lube oil back into base oil.

According to SOR, Queensland uses more lubricant oil than any state in Australia and makes up 30 per cent of the country’s annual production of waste lube oil.

The new refinery at Gladstone will collect and transport waste lube oil - at no cost to the waste oil generator from throughout Queensland.

The waste oil will be collected from a customer’s site, for example a coal mine, and transported to an aggregation facility where it will undergo primary treatment before being taken in bulk to the Gladstone re-refinery.

31st March 2014

11

News Redundant from the start? Lunch sales fall with coal price

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AROUND 140 workers employed by upstream CSG contractor Thiess were made redundant early this month.

According to one of the affected electricians - who prefers to remain anonymous - the redundancies came completely out of the blue.

He says many of the sacked workers were employed in the past six months, with some even informed of their redundancy before they finished their inductions.

“The way they went about it is absolutely ridiculous,” he told Shift Miner.

“Absolutely no-one knew anything about it until the names were given out this week.”

“Most of us left good paying jobs and applied for the work on the promise of 12 to 18 months employment after Thiess secured the $1.8 billion QGC contract.”

The worker says electrical contractors ECNN and Kentech have now been subcontracted by Thiess to carry out the work.

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31st March 2014

“A skeleton crew of around 40 or 50 Thiess people are expected to remain on site - with the rest of the work contracted to electrical contractors ECNN and Kentech,” he said.

“There is no talk of moving us to other parts of the business. I don’t know where we stand with redundancy, and the contractors who are coming in to replace us are not looking for people.”

Kentech, a privately owned Irish company, announced in October last year that they were working with Thiess to perform electrical and instrumentation services on Curtis Island and on the Matilda John Field compressor station in the Surat Basin.

At the time, Kentech’s managing director Phil Johnson said that contract was “an exciting new opportunity for Kentech in Australia to build on our worldwide LNG experience and expand our presence in Australia”.

In a written statement, a spokesperson for Thiess said it would be demobilising a number of electrical employees engaged on QCLNG as the current scope of electrical work winds down.

“In coming months, a second phase of electrical work will require a ramp-up of employee numbers, “ the spokesperson said.

“Thiess will do all it can to facilitate the smooth re-engagement of electrical workers, both directly by Thiess and by subcontractors.”

THE decision to buy lunch may seem far removed from lower coal prices but it’s not, according to property valuers Herron Todd White (HTW).

In its current monthly report, HTW says retail property in the Mackay CBD is the latest part of the economy to feel the impact.

“Demand for this type of tenancy [restaurants, cafés and takeaway outlets] has recently softened in line with the slowdown in the coal industry and the consequent deterioration in the local economy,” the report read.

“Continued job insecurity has the potential to curtail consumer spending, and uncertainty surrounding the future of the coal industry may constrain further retail development.

“The loss in confidence in the local economy has the potential to impact on existing rental rates and yields for retail centres in the region.”

However, HTW observes that the coal downturn is just the latest challenge confronting owners of retail property in the Mackay CBD. Since the 1970s and the arrival of shopping centres like Canelands, there has been a slow deterioration in the popularity of retail property in the town centre.

However, in better news for the city as a whole, HTW confirms that

hardware giant Bunnings will continue with its plans to build two new complexes in Mackay - one at Paget and one in Richmond.

In the nearby resource town of Gladstone, HTW says there has been very little activity in the retail market with rents stable and very few sales to report.

“The Gladstone retail market is intrinsically linked to the ongoing activity surrounding the major liquid natural gas (LNG) projects in the region,” HTW says.

“We consider market conditions will remain generally stable, however there is potential for price vulnerability and some market volatility due to the weakened local economy in relation to declining workforce numbers for the construction of LNG projects.”

In Rockhampton, there have been increasing vacancy rates in the CBD and falling demand for some of the older building types.

In fact, some owners are now offering incentives to try and attract tenants.

“In order to secure tenants, incentives including rent-free periods and fit-out allowances are becoming more common as tenants have more bargaining power than in the past,” HTW says.

“Owners are prepared to reduce rentals and offer substantial incentives in order to secure strong tenants.”

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Keeping mates safe at Kestrel

KESTREL coal miners near Emerald have been recognised by the highest levels of management for their safety efforts.

Rio Tinto chief executive Sam Walsh was on-site to hand out the ‘most improved’ award to Kestrel mine in the company’s internal global safety awards.

Kestrel mine received the award for the use of visible safety leaders as coaches; the MATESAFE program, which encourages interdependent safety behaviour and for improving incident investigations.

Mr Walsh also recognised the Kestrel mines rescue team,

Weeded out CONTROLLING weeds should be a key part of all land access agreements with gas companies, according to GasFields Commission chairman John Cotter.

A landmark legal case where Yuleba grazier Richard Golding took Origin Energy and QGC to court saw a specific clause regarding biosecurity added to the Conduct and Compensation Agreement (CCA) and a hefty compensation package negotiated.

Mr Cotter said it was imperative that a biosecurity clause was included in all CCAs. “Biosecurity needs to become a focal point of landholder education workshops to ensure they are adequately equipped to effectively negotiate biosecurity clauses in their CCAs,” he told Shift Miner.

The court case stemmed from Yuleba grazier Richard Golding finding a patch of the invasive weed African Lovegrass on his two properties.

He decided to carry out random checks on QGC’s vehicles that were meant to have carried out a washdown before entering his property.

“It was really confronting that out of the 15 random checks, we had seven noncompliance - so close to 50 per cent noncompliance,” Mr Golden told Shift Miner.

Mr Golden said QGC appeared

which will represent Australia at the international mines rescue competition in Poland this September.

The team was invited to compete at the competition after it became the first team to win all three Australian rescue competitions open to

just as shocked, as these were subcontractors who were meant to be following strict protocols.

“We made the decision to invoke the CCA terms to basically issue a notice of default, and that’s when it hit the fan big time.”

Mr Golden demanded that every vehicle have a washdown, a certificate and a land access approval number - and those three things had to be shown at entry points to be allowed in.

“Even with the security check, we still have some people attempting to get in without compliance.

“As landholders, we need to understand that out of 30-40 people who would come to your place over a year to suddenly hundreds of people over the week, there is statistical certainty that there will be problems.”

Mr Golden said he was not prepared to buckle on biosecurity.

“If someone smashes a fence, you can tell them to get back and fix it, but the two areas that make biosecurity such a big deal is that one, you won’t know of noncompliance if you’re not monitoring, and if it has happened you won’t know until years later when weeds and pests have taken a hold, and then you may be saddled with that for 20-30 years or permanently.”

Queensland mines in 2012.

“The team here at Kestrel mine can be very proud of the way they’ve continuously improved safety,” Rio Tinto chief executive Sam Walsh said.

“The performance of the Kestrel mines rescue team is just one example of this commitment.

I look forward to seeing them make Australia and Rio Tinto proud at the world competition later this year.”

Adding his voice, Kestrel mine general manager John Coughlan said he was proud of each and every person who works at Kestrel and recognised the “deep commitment we have made in developing a strong safety culture in the way that we work”.

The Rio Tinto Chief Executive Safety Awards are open to all Rio Tinto operations across more than 40 countries, which encompass the aluminium, copper, diamonds and minerals, energy and iron ore businesses.

Assessors looked for excellence in site safety culture, safety leadership and employee engagement.

Sedgman secures $90 million contract MINING contractor Sedgman has secured a $90 million contract to operate and maintain the coal handling plant (CHPP) servicing the Poitrel and Millenium mines in Central Queensland.

Under the three-year contract Sedgman will continue to operate and maintain the CHPP, which is designed to process 1000 tonnes an hour of coal from the two mines.

BHP Mitsui and Peabody share the processing plant via the Red Mountain Joint Venture (RMJV), and have employed Segman in the role since 2007.

Managing director Nick Jukes said the renewal recognised the strength of Sedgmans operations capability and its long standing relationship with RMJV. “Our operations division focuses on optimising plant throughput while maintaining high standards of safety and reliability for our clients,” he said.

“We’ve developed a strong, mutually rewarding relationship with RMJV and look forward to building that relationship over the next three years.”

Landmark compo case

WHEN Origin Energy and QCG began plotting gas wells on a Yuleba cattle property in 2009, they probably never imagined a battle over weeds would make it all the way to the Supreme Court.

Yet it did, and grazier Richard Golden was able to negotiate a Conduct and Compensation Agreement (CCA) that puts biosecurity at the forefront and also offers a compensation package far beyond what was originally on offer.

“The agreements ended up being quite okay. They have acceptable financial terms and I have to say I am pleased with the conduct terms,” Mr Golden told Shift Miner.

“The QGC agreement is outstanding in terms of conduct, and Origin is acceptable, and finally they are sufficient.

“It recognises all the disturbances and loss - and if there is more loss beyond this, I can wear that.”

The separate agreements cover the two CSG companies’ rights to develop 88 gas wells and 110km of road and pipeline through 7900 hectares of Golden Grazing’s two properties - Potter’s Flat and Sollow.

Mr Golden signed an agreement with Origin Energy last month and with QGC at the end of last year.

Mr Golden said landholders are dealt only one trump card, and that is the reimbursement of realistic and necessary costs. So he engaged the services of an agronomist, a veterinarian, a valuer, and a noise, dust and air-quality specialist, and armed with their affidavits was able to get his message across at court.

“This is our life - it’s our past, our present our future. It may not be our family, but there will be a successor, and whether you gift it or sell it, you have a successor and we have an obligation to our successor to do the right thing by our land and do the right thing in these resource obligations.”

By engaging in these experts - and having a lawyer experienced in the mining and resources sector - as part of his negotiations, Mr Golden was able to get all his costs reimbursed.

He is not allowed to disclose them, but said “you’d fall off your chair if I told you”.

He said the compensation agreements cover for impacts and lost income and are not an income stream, but they have actually helped him through this drought.

31st March 2014

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Shift Miner Magazine

Around Town

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FOOTY IS BACK! The Blackwater Crushers took on the Capras at a home game recently. [Photo credit: Jeannette Fletcher]

Glen, Nadia and Lisa Tiers

(L-R) Lyn Harris, Sheryl Brumby, and Michelle Rogers

(L-R) Ryan Cracknell, Rebekah Taylor, Rachelle Carsburg-Bateman, Josh Mathewson and Bailey Carsburg-Bateman

.............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

The Blackwater Basilisks recently played host to a day of rugby union action. [Photo credit Jeanette Fletcher]

Steve Webb and Peter Darlison

Dane Heron and Roslyn Orr

Sarah and William Picot

Lacee Mitchell and Kerry Picot

Robert Coppo and Brittany Mundt

Jason and Thomas Isles

(L-R) Kevin Weir, Troy Smith and Bill McFarlane

(L-R) James Warton, Teran McCasker, Adam Woods and Dean Coppo

Holding a social event you want photographed? Call the Shift Miner office on 4921 4333 to let us know. You can also give our office a bell if you’d like a copy of any of the photos in this edition.

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31st March 2014

Shift Miner Magazine

Around Town

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SPEED JUNKIES

Blackwater held its first Speedway meet for two years last month. [Photo credit: Jeanette Fletcher]

Paul and Norelle Marsden

(L-R) Ora, Jack and Jay Glover

(L-R) Brenden, Logan and Jade Scutt

Luke Wildie and Jason Scutt

Julie Hard and Di Clemesha

Breeannah Barney and Chakkri Sae-Loo

Tammara Lingard and Steve Campbell

Steve Schuh and Mick Bartley

Lateisha O’Dell and John Lucas

(L-R) Kyle, Noel and Dan Woodrow

Natalie Lingard and Blayze Lucas

Buy this and many other images at

www.shiftminer.com Shift Miner magazine – bringing the mining community closer together 31st March 2014

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FROm THE EDITOR

Emerald opening Keep it in the region makes big splash THE Member for Capricornia Michelle Landry believes that if there is going to be a non-resident workforce for the mining industry, it should be kept regional.

That’s hardly a surprising standpoint from a local member - but the argument is a strong one.

Central Queensland bears the brunt of the mining workforce living in rural communities, using water and other facilities - and therefore it should also enjoy the financial benefits.

There are lot of things going on in the mining sector at the moment that seem counter-intuitive.

Why prevent a local, retrenched miner from being able to apply for a job in the mine down the road?

Why do workers living in Rockhampton need to fly to Brisbane and then to the Bowen Basin - rather than offering a direct flight straight there?

It would appear the industry is operating in a strange twilight zone between boom and bust times.

Decisions that were made at the height of the boom, when there was a severe skills shortage, are completely

out-of-sync with the current market.

I take some solace from the fact CQUniversity resource analyst John Rolfe doesn’t believe this is the start of a long-term trend to exclude local workers from Central Queensland mine jobs.

I can also sympathise with BMA that it can’t unravel decisions that are now firmly cemented in the running of new mines.

However, it’s cold comfort for local mine industry workers who are paying the ultimate price - sitting at home with the right skills set, but excluded from employment because of their postcode.

I applaud the Queensland Resources Council for applying pressure on the state government to support mining towns with real, tangible funding and new infrastructure.

It’s time for regional Queensland to enjoy some of the spoils of the boom times, and help build communities to sustain mining into the future.

Do you think it’s fair that non-residents should from regions outside Central Queensland? Text us your thoughts.

Comment or SMS 0409 471 014

Photos to THE EDITOR

797 failure at Freeport mine, Indonesia circa 2011.

Sent in by one of our readers.

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31st March 2014

AROUND a thousand people came through the gate at the Emerald Aquatic Centre at its official opening last weekend.

Central Highlands Regional Council Mayor Peter Maguire thanked the community for their patience during construction of this project.

“It was great to see so many people down at the pool on Sunday, because as well as doing the official opening, it was also about saying thank you to our community for the last couple of years, and really showcasing what a great sport

and recreation facility the Aquatic Centre now provides for everyone,” he said.

The first part of this major project was the heated, enclosed, fully tiled Learn to Swim wet deck pool, which was delivered back in June 2013. The much anticipated final stage, comprising the new FINA standard, fully tiled, 50m wet deck pool and wet play area opened for business in November 2013.

This project was supported through funding from the Australian Government, in conjunction with Central Highlands Regional Council.

Photos to THE EDITOR

Text in your best snap to 0409 471 014

Switch it up Use your powers for evil….

Sent in by one of our readers

Text in your best snap to 0409 471 014

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Frank the Tank’s Dear Frank,

My husband wants to quit his day job (in mining) and pursue a career in music.

He’s pretty good, but I’m sad to say, not that good.

How can I get him to give up on music as a career without breaking his heart and crushing his dreams?

Donna, Brisbane What man out there hasn’t dreamed of being a rock star?

In the mid 1980s, I actually lived the dream for a short while, touring Japan with my band, “Golden Shower”.

Although we never really broke out

of the land of the rising sun, we were big over there.

Like most rock stars, though, we took it too far. I was spending thousands of dollars to have miniature models of Tokyo constructed in my hotel room, only to purposely destroy them in an erotic fight with a prostitute dressed as Godzilla.

We also refused to eat anything except for mildly poisonous pufferfish prepared by a group of specially trained monkey chefs.

By the 90s our spandex-clad brand of gyrating rock was no longer relevant, and Golden Shower was forced to disband.

I’ll never forget my time as a rock star in Japan, but sometimes I do miss it.

Whenever someone makes reference to Godzilla, I’m often so overcome with arousal that I need to sit down immediately.

The good news for you, Donna, is you don’t have to get your husband to give up on his dreams.

In fact, you can get this whole process

Fair Dinkum!

“Streakin” good love advice

over and done with a lot quicker if you actively encourage your husband to put himself out there.

If his own wife doesn’t think he’s that good the punters at the local pub are going to eat him alive.

Nothing will torpedo his musical aspirations quite like a highly intoxicated Cold Chisel fan screaming “flame trees” in his face while he’s trying to belt out an original number.

In fact, if you want to make sure your husband’s career never gets off the ground you could pay a few barflies to heckle him while he performs.

That way you can shatter his dreams by proxy and still seem like a supportive wife.

My Thai internet bride did the same thing to me, by having a courier deliver me the March issue of “Fabulous Ladyboys Magazine” with her face on the cover.

The courier looked uncomfortable when I started crying.

Frank the country, but in a bizarre twist his apartment became host to “XXX freak fest”, a massive orgy featuring stuffed animals and plus-size women.

The horrified man returned to his apartment to collect some luggage when he discovered “freak fest” in full swing.

He called 911 to have the party goers removed from his apartment.

IN SRI LANKA

Creators of an app that replaces images of Tony Abbott say they are not making a political statement but having a bit of fun.

IN THE US - A New York man

got an extremely rude shock when he

attempted to rent his apartment out for the weekend as a bed and breakfast.

He expected a quiet family from

- The government received two applications from Australians in response to their advertisement for a new hangman.

The last hangman quit after he became upset at the sight of the gallows, and the previous two simply failed to show up for work.

Unfortunately for the two Aussie applicants the Sri Lankan government does not consider foreigners eligible to be hangmen.

Sri Lanka has over 400 people awaiting execution on death row, but has not carried out an execution since the 1970s.

IN MELBOURNE - Charlie

SENSIBLE SUSAN Donna, I feel really dirty just saying this... but Frank makes a good point.

You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to know that it’s very, very difficult to ‘make it’ in the music industry.

Perhaps you could encourage your husband to try and get some gigs around Brisbane on his days off just to test the waters.

Even the local music scene is bound to be very competitive, so you should tell your husband he needs to break through there before he can think about going pro.

Worst case scenario, he’ll realise he hasn’t got what it takes and won’t quit his job.

Best case scenario, he does make it and lands his dream career.

Susan

the Maltese terrier had a brush with death recently but was saved by copious ingestion of vodka. That’s right, vodka.

Charlie drank some anti-freeze, which tastes sweet to dogs, but causes kidney failure.

His owners rushed him to the vet who promptly prescribed vodka.

Alcohol alters the chemical reaction caused by anti-freeze and stops kidney failure from occurring.

According to Charlie’s owner he was “definitely drunk” following his treatment.

He has since made a full recovery.

IN AUSTRALIA - A group of

software developers have created an extension for a web browser that automatically replaces Tony Abbott with pictures of cats.

The app called ‘Stop Tony Meow’ removes the Prime MinIster from web pages and other material and substitutes him with adorable cats.

The developers insist they are not making a political statement, they just thought the app would be a bit of fun.

It is available for Google Chrome, and a Safari version is currently in the works.

31st March 2014

17

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Well maintained with little hours. 2010 model (purchased new 2011). Full service history & just had last full service June 2013. A few small scratches here & there but nothing to cry about.

Test ride welcome.

Deep Sea Fishing Boat, Length: 25 feet, 7 inches Always garaged, new trailer: only 600 hrs: 360 hp: Cruising speed 25 knots: 31 ltrs/hr: 2005: Fridge, table, sink, water, sleeps 4 adults. Trailer never been in water. Never been anti fouled.

$12,000

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Call: 0419 587 668

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Call: 0421 517 444

CAR FOR SALE

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Call: 0408 785 553

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Call: 0418 754 206

Call: 0418 754 206

Shift Miner Magazine

Off Shift

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CLASSIC MOVIE Review by Justin Carlos

Happy 30th, terminator

PUZZLES

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unstoppable terminator.

The film showcases Cameron’s talent as both a director and a screenwriter as he manages to blend science fiction, action, suspense and romance into one stylish narrative.

With the possible exception of some

earth - is sent back in time to murder Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton), who will eventually give birth to the leader of the human resistance.

A human soldier from the future (Michael Biehn) is sent back to protect Sarah Connor from the seemingly

WAY before James Cameron made billions from Avatar and Arnie was the governor of California, the two teamed up to make a sci-fi thriller called The Terminator.

A human-looking cyborg (Schwarzenegger) from the year 2029 - where machines have taken over the

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Across 1. Barb-tailed fish 5. Homed (in on) 9. Answers 10. Actress, ... Bullock 12. Band 13. Immature insect 14. Jug 16. No longer existing 19. Dogs, French ...

21. Weeded 24. Adores 25. Accused (president) 27. Consider 28. Intermittently (3,3,2) 29. Turns out 30. Purges

of the final scenes in the film, the special effects in the Terminator have dated extremely well, especially considering they are now 30 years old.

Although he had already starred in a handful of movies, The Terminator is the film that elevated Arnold Schwarzenegger to the upper echelons of action stardom.

The film features arguably one of the most famous lines in cinema history, you guessed it, “I’ll be back.”

It’s hard to imagine anyone but Arnie delivering that line and playing the hulking cyborg, but it almost wasn’t to be.

Mel Gibson turned down the role of the terminator, and OJ Simpson was considered for the part but was ultimately passed on because producers feared he wouldn’t be taken seriously as a cold blooded killer.

Although the Terminator is often overlooked in favour of its blockbuster brother, T2: Judgment Day, there is certainly much to be said for the original.

The film creates a real sense of hopelessness in certain parts, both about the apocalyptic future world that man is destined to, and the plight of Sarah Connor and her protector as they attempt to escape from a seemingly unstoppable killing machine.

Whether you’re a hardened film buff, an action aficionado or a lover of science fiction, the Terminator is a must watch.

Down 1. Religious lecture LAST EDITION’S SOLUTIONS 2. Fly or ant J U DGME N T SMO K E D U E I A U I E 3. Sphere G E L A T I N E S T A N Z A 4. Business books examiner G U R N E A D F L A D D E R I NG T A L ON 6. Shoulder strap E E E G I I E S K I S S H OWE R S 7. Requisitioning A P N N R S P A R S ON S C U S P 8. Sequined fabric O E C N A S A SWA N K A I RMA I L E D 11. Peel (fruit) T M B P O R A O L I B Y A N QU A I N T E R 15. Profitably used (4-5) E L C S S E E S H E I K H D E P E N D E D 17. Fruit dessert (5,3) # 63 18. Prove to 9 1 4 7 6 2 3 5 8 5 2 7 9 3 8 6 4 1 20. Slender 6 3 8 4 1 5 9 7 2 21. Encouraging 3 9 2 5 4 1 8 6 7 22. Tones 8 7 1 6 2 9 4 3 5 23. Beautiful youth 26. Ethiopia’s capital, Addis ... 4 6 5 8 7 3 1 2 9 2 8 9 3 5 4 7 1 6 7 5 3 1 9 6 2 8 4 1 4 6 2 8 7 5 9 3

SHIFT MINER Handy Cross 588 - (15A grid) ShiftMinerHandy085s. pdf © Lovatts Publications 18/03/2010

# 64

Shift Miner Handy Cross blank grid.pdf ©Lovatts Publications 5/03/09 artist – mb

31st March 2014

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Shift Miner Magazine

Off Shift

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Mind-boggling Japanese video games IT’S no secret that we’re fascinated with all the weird and wonderful stuff that comes out of Japan.

However, even we weren’t prepared for how weird some of these video games are.

Presented for your enjoyment, Shift Miner’s favourite crazy Japanese video games.

Hatoful Boyfriend - Pigeon dating game In ‘Hatoful Boyfriend’ you are the only human attending St PigeoNation’s Institute, a posh boarding school for rich pigeons.

You can interact with your pigeon classmates, solve a mystery, and fend off weird advances by male pigeons who want to be your boyfriend.

The game was translated to English in 2012 and is available on PC...though we’re not sure where.

Mr Mosquito If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to be a blood sucking parasite then this is the game for you.

Play as a mosquito who must suck enough blood from a suburban family in order to survive the long winter ahead.

The player must stay out of sight or they’ll be swatted out of the air and fail the mission.

Super Table Flip

Boong-Ga Boong-Ga

Sometimes you just get angry and feel like flipping over a table.

Thanks to super table flip you can do it in an arcade setting.

The game puts you in the shoes of a Japanese dad who has just received some distressing and enraging news during dinner.

Naturally, you have to flip the dinner table over as hard as you can to shock and upset your virtual family.

The arcade game features a table that you physically flip while playing the game.

This one takes the cake. Japanese boys play this game, which involves spanking a character and then performing ‘kancho’ on them. What is kancho? Let’s just say it’s the same procedure doctors use for a prostate exam.

The arcade cabinet features a rubber butt for spanking, and a foam finger that can be inserted into the butt to simulate kancho.

There are eight characters to punish by spanking and kancho, including an exgirlfriend, a child molester and your mother-in-law.

Death is everywhere!

QUICK survey: are you more likely to die by crocodile attack or from falling out of bed?

The answer may surprise you.

Statistically, you are far more likely to die from falling out of bed - or by being attacked by a venomous caterpillar - than a crocodile.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics recently released a report on how Australians died in the last 12 months, and while cancer and heart disease were the leading causes of death, some of the ways in which Australians shuffled off their mortal coil were just bizarre.

Contact with your hot water tap is more

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31st March 2014

likely to cause death than a venomous spider, and you’re nine times more likely to drown in the bath than perish in a train crash.

Your gender can also greatly affect your statistical chance of a premature trip to the pearly gates.

Males are three times more likely to die in front of moving objects, twice as likely to die from venomous animals and plants, and far more vulnerable to death from poisoning or noxious substances.

Men are also 13 times more prone to death by jumping, falling or being pushed from a high area than women.

Houchi Play Since when did dirty old perverts make good video game characters?

Houchi Play lets you take control of a perverted old man trying to spy on girls while they’re getting dressed.

You can move your character closer to the girls when they’re not looking, but you must stop when they’re paying attention.

Power ups come in the form of alcohol which increases ‘courage’ allowing your character to move faster.

Apparently it also pays to be careful performing innocuous tasks like staying in bed or sitting down.

Fifty-eight people died from falling out of bed and 26 perished after falling off a chair.

Human stampedes, earthquakes and avalanches are apparently non-hazardous in Australia, with each of them causing zero deaths.

I suppose we should thank the Bureau of Statistics for issuing a report that seems to frighteningly highlight the fact that death is lurking around every corner, just waiting for you to roll out of bed and land awkwardly.

Shift Miner Magazine

Off Shift

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Bait Shop Banter

“There have been some good catches of nannygai in the shipping channel, as well as some red emperor and a lot of coral trout getting around,” said Clinton.

There are still plenty of barra being caught in both the rivers and dams, with live and strip bait proving more effective than lures in current conditions.

Gladstone - As with

Yeppoon and Mackay, anglers in Gladstone have had very little to complain about lately.

Dylan from Pat’s Tackle World says there’s plenty happening in the estuaries at the moment.

“There’s a lot prawns and crabs around in the estuaries, and with this recent rain

YEPPOON - Although the

weather has been fairly ordinary of late, the fish have been biting.

According to Adrian, the Secret Spot Bait and Tackle’s resident fishing guru, there’s been some good catches both on and offshore recently.

“We went out recently and got a nice mix of sweet lip, coral trout and some good mackerel. There’s some good fish around fairly close to the harbour as well.”

If you fancy wetting a line on shore, you’re in luck, “On the last lot of neat tides there were heaps of salmon getting caught at Corio and Coorooman, and there’s still heaps of barra getting around,” said Adrian.

There have been extremely good

their numbers are only going to improve.”

Increased levels of bait in the water may be contributing to good catches of estuary fish.

“There’s been a lot of barra, mangrove jack and salmon caught of late, the upper reaches of the Calliope River and the mouth of the Boyne River have been fishing particularly well,” said Dylan.

Anglers who ventured offshore in favourable conditions reported catches of mackerel, red emperor and coral trout around Gladstone.

If you have a good photo or fishing yarn send it through to our resident bait chucker-

angus.peacocke@shiftminer.com

numbers of crabs being caught recently, although some are holding more water than meat.

It is expected they will fill up over the coming weeks.

Mackay - Rainy weather hasn’t

dampened the fishing in Mackay.

Clinton from Tackle World Mackay said although there’s been plenty of rain around, big tides are contributing to good estuary fishing conditions.

“The big tides are pushing enough salt into the creeks that we’re still getting plenty of big grunter, try fishing Glendower Creek, Allom Point and the Seaforth area.”

When the weather allows there has been a lot of good red fish caught offshore.

SHIFT MINER’S PICK

What’s Happening?

Moranbah Battle of the Bands

This April 5, 2014 at Moranbah. Entrants are welcome from anywhere in the Isaac Region Area.

For sponsorship, phone Nicole 4941 5602.

Ages 10-25 years, great prizes, awesome judges with live performances. Solo performers, duo or groups are welcome! This is for our National Youth Week, “Our voice our impact”.

For more information and bookings 4941 5602. You may visit our facebook page – Elam Moranbah Youth

Justice Crew #hypetour Wednesday 09 April 2014

Region: Queensland - Gladstone Show Times : April 9, 2014 Venue : Gladstone Entertainment Centre JUSTICE CREW and special guest JAI WAETFORD will make their way to Gladstone Entertainment Convention Centre. This high energy spectacular is not just another concert, but an all-out experience that is not to be missed.

Justice Crew are the first of their kind; a dance troupe that have hit the top of the charts as recording artists. Justice Crew’s motto is: ‘Dream Big’ and the guys are focused on being examples to the younger

generation, showing that you can overcome hardship and negativity to realise your goals and potential.

NOTE: General Admission standing concert only. visit: www.gladecc.com.au to purchase tickets

KRIS KRISTOFFERSON Solo and Acoustic

Show Times : Gladstone, April 22, 2014; Rockhampton, 23 April; Mackay 25 April.

American country music legend, Kris Kristofferson will be coming to Gladstone on Tuesday 22 April for a live acoustic show on the back of the release of his album Feeling Mortal.

Fans can look forward to Kristofferson performing in an intimate mode with Kristofferson on guitar playing the hits we all know and love such as; Me and Bobby McGee, Help Me Make it Through the Night, Sunday Morning Coming Down and For the Good Times. The intimacy of the shows will allow audiences to not only be captivated by Kristofferson’s voice but also an opportunity to hear firsthand the stories of his life both on and off the road visit: www.gladecc.com.au www.pilbeamtheatre.com.au www.mackayecc.com.au to purchase tickets.

Want more events in your world?

Go online and look at our events guide. It’s updated daily. www.shiftminer.com or get the iPhone app 31st March 2014

21

Shift Miner Magazine

Sport

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Blackwater to First shot fired light it up in 2014 on ANZAC day

THE president of the Blackwater Crushers rugby league side says they are optimistic about their 2014 season, with a few new faces and around 30 people at training already.

It’s a particularly strong achievement given other nearby mining communities like Tieri and Dysart have had to pull out of this years competition due to a lack of players.

Or more accurately, a lack of available players who can fit footy in with their work.

“Numbers are good, especially for preseason,” president Jay Denman told Shiftminer.

“We are feeling optimistic that with so many players available at the beginning of the season, we should be able to field a good side throughout the year.”

“Most of our players are back from 2013, plus we picked up a couple of new younger players from Toowoomba.”

In an effort to “save the marriage”, president Jay Denman has tried to reduce his own workload in 2014 by stepping back from the coaching role.

But with big ambitions for the club, he says he’s spent a lot of time working on the off-field issues.

“We are trying to get a lot of cosmetic work done off the field, like improving the clubhouse and other infrastructure.” he said.

“In the off season we decided to upgrade the lighting at our own expense, even though technically we don’t own them.”

“But an audit midway through last season said we had a problem with our lighting so we just stepped in and got it fixed, which should improve our night games.”

“I must just add a special thanks to the Lincon Group who supplied an operator and lifting platform so we could get that work done, and of course all our sponsors like SMW maintenance, Capricorn Hotel, Thiess, Curragh and Chrisy Way Maintenance.”

Mr Denman has also welcomed the push by the Central Highlands Rugby League to play juniors, ladies and senior mens on the one day.

“As far as I am concerned when we talk about the Blackwater Crushers it should refer to the seniors, juniors and ladies teams.”

“I want this to be the club where juniors can aspire to be like the senior team, where the older blokes can act as role models for

Suns comeback starts with Dalby THE Chinchilla Suns are gearing up for a big year in 2014, after their first game against gas fields rivals, the Dalby Swans on the weekend.

After an inhospitable 2013 season, the Suns have their sights set on turning the tide in 2014.

The result from the Swans match was not available at the time of print but speaking before the game Suns president Jay Paget said the boys from Chinchilla were looking to make amends.

“There were a few passionate encounters last year; we copped a solid welcome from them [Dalby], so we’re looking to turn the tables,” he said.

“The boys are looking good. We’ve had a pretty solid pre-season and we’re excited to keep going.”

“Scott Hannon has come on as our head coach - he’s had experience coaching senior footy and also had a lot of success

22

31st March 2014

with junior teams.”

“Between Scott and our other coaching staff, we’ve got a fair bit of experience, so everyone’s pretty confident.”

In addition to new coaching staff, the Suns have also signed some new talent in the off season, including one that did some rookie training with St Kilda, and an Irish Gaelic footballer here for work.

Although success in the competition is a top priority for the Suns, Mr Paget said they were also looking to raise the club profile in the community.

“We’ve got a few night games planned which is new for our club and for Chinchilla as a town, we’re hoping it’ll see the community really get behind the Suns in 2014.

“We would also like to thank all our sponsors, without them it wouldn’t be possible for us to stay in the competition, so we’re really grateful.”

KICK off in the 2014 Central Highlands Rugby League competition is expected to be on ANZAC day, April 25.

The finishing touches are currently being added to the draw, and it’s expected that the committee will give its final approval this week.

As previously reported, the biggest change for 2014 is that the towns of Dysart and Tieri won’t field a senior rugby league side due to a lack of players.

However in more positive news, it looks likely that there will be a four-team women’s competition.

Competition secretary Cameron Stallard

says the draw is taking a little bit longer this year because they are trying to synchronise junior senior and ladies games.

“It’s in the constitution that we contract the draw out, and it will come back to the committee for approval,” he said.

“We will take it to a meeting with all the clubs, but the final decision will be made by us.”

“But the extra delay this year is to try and get the seniors, juniors and ladies games all on the one day, so families can have a full day of rugby league.”

“So we are just trying to synchronise all that together.”

Shift work forces AFL to split competition THE complications created by the booming CSG sector in the Surat basin have forced a restructure of the Southern Queensland AFL competition.

The 2014 men’s senior A-grade draw has been split into two divisions of eight teams - largely in response to CSG work rosters affecting the availability of players.

Which is ironic given the gas industry has also meant there are more able-bodied men in Southern Queensland able to to play AFL than ever before.

However most of them can only play on an ad hoc basis due to the nature of their employment, and it has forced AFL Darling Downs to rethink things.

AFL teams in the key CSG localities of Chinchilla, Dalby and the South Burnett will this year play in a division two senior men’s competition.

It’s effectively a reserve-grade competition for the weaker teams from 2013 - or perhaps more accurately the teams in 2013 who just couldn’t reliably get the 25 players every game.

Jeff Neumann development officer for

the AFL in the region says the restructure is about equalising the competition.

“It came down to trying to find a format that was going to work for teams exposed to the gas industry like Chinchilla, Dalby and South Burnett,” he said.

“Those teams have a large turnover of players each week, so getting a regular 25 is a real challenge.”

“It’s about competition equalisation and our goal is to strengthen all teams through a more balanced competition, so hopefully new clubs like Chinchilla continue to grow.”

“But our long-term goal is to have every club have two teams and that is what we are working toward.”

The AFL has also decided to offer a lot more flexibility on game times to division two sides.

In 2013, all games started at 2:30 pm on Saturday.This year fixtures will occur on both Saturday and Sunday and during the day and night.

First bounce for 2014 will occur on March 29, with a big CSG clash when Dalby takes on Chinchilla at the Chinchilla showgrounds.

Money Matters

www.shiftminer.com

ROOM WITH A VIEW

»

18/12 Golden Orchid Drive, Airlie Beach

Exotic homes

Price: $290,000

Whether you’re looking for a place to live or chasing that ideal investment property, this Mediterranean style unit ticks all the boxes. Situated in the heart of Airlie Beach and just a short one-minute walk to shops and restaurants, this fully furnished two-bedroom unit features air-conditioning throughout, and has been freshly painted and improved.

The resort complex features two swimming pools, spa and barbecue area and offers ocean views from the courtyard.

Sporting a very reasonable price tag this unit may present an excellent opportunity for budding investors.

Contact: Adam Webster, Ray White Whitsunday, 0401235534.

for the mobile miner

‘The Oceanfront Villa’ - Byron Bay

»

Shift Miner Magazine

POA

Spacious, palatial and elegant are just a few words that describe this magnificent property. Nestled in an exclusive pocket of Montville, this four-bedroom, three-bathroom stunner offers captivating views over the Conondale Ranges and national park. The home features a modern kitchen with premium appliances, inground pool with a view, large deck for entertaining, intercom, ducted air-conditioning and so much more. If you’re looking for a private retreat that doesn’t sacrifice style or creature comfort, then this home is definitely for you.

Contact: Ann Ellison-Cole, Asset Agents, 0433 466 995

»

41 Manley Drive, Montville

»

Price: $3.75 million

185 Archer Road, Struck Oil Price: $795,000

The phrase ‘million dollar view’ is thrown around a lot in the world of real estate, but in this case it applies literally. This luxury Byron Bay villa allows you to step off your back deck and straight onto a beautiful sun-drenched beach. Built with relaxation in mind, ‘the oceanfront villa’ features a lower level dedicated to relaxation and meditation. There’s a lounge area perfect for kicking back and watching a movie, and a dedicated space which can be used for yoga, pilates or meditation.

Upstairs you can relax under the stars in your outdoor bath and take in sprawling views of the beach and surrounds.

Contact: Nicolette van Wijngaarden, Unique Estates, 0411 144 877

Have you dreamed of living on an acreage, or owning your own hobby farm? 185 Archer Road, affectionately titled ‘Hillview’ could make those dreams a reality. Situated on 185 acres across three titles, the home features four spacious bedrooms with split system air-conditioning, several rainwater tanks, bore access and power access on all blocks. Just 25 minutes from the Gracemere shops, you can live the ‘get away from it all’ lifestyle while still remaining close to schools, shops and other amenities.

Contact: Robin Scantlebury, Century 21 Solutions, 0438 285 296.

Send your exotic dream property details and low resolution images to justin.carlos@shiftminer.com 31st March 2014

23

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Our advisers provide investment recommendations which are supported by award winning research. Clients have access to a wealth of experience in superannuation and self managed super fund advice, retirement and estate planning, portfolio management, strategic planning and personal risk insurances.

Morgans and CIMB – Please visit www.morgans.com.au to understand the products and services within our alliance.

Morgans Financial Limited ABN 49 010 669 726 AFSL 235410 A Participant of ASX Group A Professional Partner of the Financial Planning Association of Australia

Contact Simon Milton 07 3114 8652 or Jeff White 07 3114 8621 to discuss how we can help you. www.morgans.com.au/milton