Press Release
AMCA Delegations to Canberra
During the 11th and 12th of February, AMCA arranged meetings with key political leaders, including
- Opposition Leader Peter Dutton MP,
- Senator Susan McDonald (Shadow Minister for Northern Australia),
- Member for Hunter Daniel Repacholi MP,
- Senator Dean Smith, and
- representatives of Minister Madeleine King’s office.
The discussions focused on AMCA’s position papers, highlighting critical issues for regional mining communities, particularly in the context of the upcoming federal election. While AMCA has several position papers, the key priorities raised during these meetings were Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) reform and addressing Ghost Populations—the thousands of FIFO/DIDO workers not captured in national data but who significantly impact regional infrastructure and services.
AMCA Chair Glenn Wilson expressed gratitude for the opportunity to engage with policymakers, stating:
“We appreciate the opportunity to meet with key decision-makers to ensure mining communities are heard. These discussions allow us to advocate for policies reflecting regional Australia's realities.
With the upcoming election, both sides of government must understand our challenges and commit to solutions that provide fair funding and sustainable development. While AMCA has several position papers, we focused on two urgent issues: FBT reform to support local workforce retention and the recognition of Ghost Populations to ensure accurate funding allocations.”
AMCA’s position papers, which highlight critical issues for regional mining communities, are:
- Critical Minerals List – AMCA urges the government to add iron ore, steel-making coal and magnetite to Australia’s Critical Minerals List, emphasising their essential role in global infrastructure and economic stability.
- FIFO/DIDO (Ghost Population) Challenges – FIFO/DIDO (Ghost Populations) practices strain regional services without proper funding. AMCA calls for better data collection, funding adjustments, and a national framework to assess FIFO/DIDO impacts.
- Tax Reform for Mining Communities—AMCA proposes expanding FBT exemptions for housing to encourage permanent residency, stabilise local economies, and reduce FIFO reliance.
- Economic Transition After Mine Closures—AMCA advocates for economic diversification, job retraining, and investment in alternative industries to sustain mining communities after closure.
- Housing Affordability – AMCA recommends government-backed funding, infrastructure investment, and loan reforms to address extreme housing price volatility in mining towns.
AMCA aims to ensure these policy issues remain a priority and will continue engagement with government stakeholders to advocate for regional mining communities.
For more information about the Australian Mining Cities Alliance and its initiatives, please visit http://amca.org.au/.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Gavin Cator
Executive Officer, Australian Mining Cities Alliance
Phone: 0428 680 418
Email: gavin.cator@ggpeople.com.au
