Workers need say in support efforts following mine closure

Two hundred workers have been left in the cold since Avebury Nickel Mine announced it's shutting down.

The announcement has been devastating for workers.

We know just how hard things are for families right now - the cost of groceries and power is through the roof. Being made redundant just pours salt into an already gaping wound.

The redundancy of this many workers will have a domino effect on the entire North-West / West Coast.

For most workers, it'll be months before they get back on their feet and find a new job. We know there's about 30 jobs available in West Coast mines right now.

That means the other 170 workers are probably looking at retraining or upskilling.

It all takes time.

And when you don't have that safety net and you're struggling with the bills, you stop buying luxury items. You don't get your daily coffee from the local cafe.

You don't stop to treat your kids for ice cream, or go out for dinner with your partner at your favourite restaurant. When money dries up for these families, it also dries up for small local businesses.

That's why it's important to get Avebury Mine employees the help they need as soon as possible. On paper, the support being offered to workers right now looks great.

There's promises of money for training, referrals to hotlines and employment support.

But what workers are telling me is a different story. They're saying they feel like they've been left to go it alone. They think the support is hard to access and doesn't give them what they need.

The government is in caretaker mode right now. That means that while the wheels on the state keep turning, major decisions will be put off until after the election.

But time is not a luxury these workers can afford. Workers can't spend weeks in limbo not knowing where their next paycheck is coming from. Not only is it hard for them, but it's not great for the Tasmanian economy as a whole.

I think genuine efforts are being made to support the workers. But there is nothing more valuable than spending time on the ground and asking them what they need, rather than throwing the kitchen sink at them and hoping for the best.

It'll benefit the entire North-West/ West Coast to get them back on their feet as soon as possible.

 

 

Originally published in The Burnie Advocate on 4th March 2024.

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