The Federal Government has moved to close a loophole allowing cheaper
foreign workers on Chevron's $43 billion Gorgon project, cheering the
union movement but sparking fresh concerns about rising costs on
Australia's major resource projects.
Immigration Minister Chris
Bowen said yesterday it would seek to change the Migration Act's
application to offshore resource industry workers in light of its
defeat in the so-called Allseas case.
Swiss-based offshore
pipe-laying contractor Allseas became an IR lightning rod last year when
it successfully used Tampa-era migration laws designed to stop boat
people to see off a Federal Court challenge by the Gillard Government.
Federal
Court Justice Neil McKerracher said at the time he was satisfied the
ships operated by Allseas were not "resources installations" as defined
in the Migration Act, in a case that spun on whether pipes laid by
Allseas touched the seabed, and thus whether crew should be employed
under Australian awards.
Allseas has since won further work on
Chevron's $29 billion Wheatstone venture, prompting unions to demand
changes to laws. The Government decided against appealing against the
case and Mr Bowen said he was trying to strike a balance.
Monday, October 15, 2012
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