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Queensland researchers Extra precautions have been asked

for workers in camps and those on
may hold key to COVID-19 the move, whether FIFO or drive-In,
drive-out (DIDO).
In camps:
• infection control in kitchens and food
preparation areas
• suitable accommodation for self-quarantine
• maintaining social distancing in camps,
including for recreational activities,
including outdoor sport
• limiting movement of workers from camps
and into the broader community
• no more ‘hot bedding’ to limit contact
between employees
• cleaning each room thoroughly between
uses, including changing and washing linen.
On transport:
• avoiding close contact during transport,
including reducing the numbers of people
travelling on buses and aircraft.
Queensland Premier • thorough cleans between passenger loads
Annastacia Palaszczuk getting off, and those getting on
• temperature testing at airports for
passengers boarding aircraft
ueensland is largely funding a $17 mil- While clinical use of the vaccine is a • people with symptoms not travelling, and
Qlion package for a world-leading vac- longer-term fix, people are being urged to immediately isolate, and seek medical
cine for coronavirus to be developed in the to continue to take steps like thoroughly advice
State. washing their hands, staying 1.5m away • reducing FIFO and DIDO during the COVID-19
“We will provide funding through our Ad- from others and staying home and isolat- to minimise the mass movement of people
vance Queensland strategy to fast-track ed if they’re sick to nullify the coronavirus
a vaccine for this virus,” Queensland Pre- spreading even further.
mier Annastacia Palaszczuk said. Specific to mining, companies are being “The results show COVID-19 has not
The funding package enables the Uni- asked to step up their coronavirus protec- significantly impacted jobs in our sector
versity of Queensland (UQ) and research tions for fly-in fly-out (FIFO) workers, staff in Queensland at this stage with a simi-
partners the Doherty Institute and CSIRO in mining camps and remote and regional lar survey taken in the December quarter
to undertake clinical trials to test the safety resource communities. reporting that 15% of companies were
and efficacy of the vaccine candidate. All Australian state, territory and national expecting to decrease their workforce, a
Queensland Minister of Innovation Hon resources ministers have agreed that the difference of 6% from this survey. Every
Kate Jones hoped the end result would resources sector was essential to main- company is working hard to make working
be large-scale manufacture of a potential taining a strong national economy. arrangements more flexible with 95% of
vaccine. “However, public safety is our number companies offering either additional sick
“This vaccine could save millions of one priority and we need everyone in the leave or access to future balances to sup-
lives,” Jones said. community, in business and in industry to port their workers through COVID-19. Pay-
“The research UQ is doing now is put- play their part,” Queensland Minister for roll tax relief announced by the State Gov-
ting Queensland on the map. If we can be Natural Resources Hon Anthony Lynham ernment was well received by companies
part of the solution, this research will help said. with over a quarter reporting it had helped
Queensland tap into a multi-trillion-dollar Australia’s Chief Health Officer Brendan to maintain jobs.”
industry.” Murphy has asked resources companies Meanwhile, the Association of Mining
Queensland’s Government has contrib- to follow the public health protocols so that and Exploration Companies has told its
uted $10 million on top of the Federal Gov- workers and communities are safe. members that it is highly likely that further
ernment’s $3 million and $3.5 million from Encouragingly for Queensland, mining interstate restrictions will be introduced by
the Paul Ramsay Foundation for research companies in the State are still anticipating the West Australian Government, there-
that could reduce by six months the time- growth in their workforces in the coming fore removing the interstate FIFO exemp-
line for an effective coronavirus vaccine, months, according to a survey run by the tion for travel into WA.
which would otherwise take 12-18 months Queensland Resources Council (QRC). The restrictions would mean that all in-
at best. “The survey found that 58% of compa- terstate employees will need to undertake
“If they can achieve this, it could mean nies were maintaining or planning to grow 14 days quarantine in WA before being al-
there will be a vaccine available for emer- current workforce numbers over the next lowed to go to their place of work. Queens-
gency use among healthcare workers and three months and only 21% or one in five land-based people make-up a significant
vulnerable populations in early 2021,” she expected a decrease,” QRC chief execu- portion of FIFO workers into WA.
said. tive Ian Macfarlane said. - Dominic Piper

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