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Investigation into Indigenous worker safety allegations at Inpex project Investigation into Indigenous worker safety allegations at Inpex project
(6 months later)
The federal government is investigating allegations that Indigenous trainees working on a $34bn LNG project were given falsified certificates to operate dangerous machinery they were not trained for, and that other employees were claimed as participants in the federally-funded Indigenous Employment Program.The federal government is investigating allegations that Indigenous trainees working on a $34bn LNG project were given falsified certificates to operate dangerous machinery they were not trained for, and that other employees were claimed as participants in the federally-funded Indigenous Employment Program.
Trainees on the Darwin construction site of the Inpex Ichthys LNG processing facility enrolled in the Macmahon-launched Real Opportunities and Careers – Kick Starting Today’s Aboriginal Role-models (Rockstar) program in 2012. Macmahon Holdings entered into a $3.4m contract with the federal government through the Indigenous Employment Program (IEP) to deliver hundreds of jobs to Indigenous Australians.Trainees on the Darwin construction site of the Inpex Ichthys LNG processing facility enrolled in the Macmahon-launched Real Opportunities and Careers – Kick Starting Today’s Aboriginal Role-models (Rockstar) program in 2012. Macmahon Holdings entered into a $3.4m contract with the federal government through the Indigenous Employment Program (IEP) to deliver hundreds of jobs to Indigenous Australians.
However, Guardian Australia revealed on Friday that some Rockstar trainees said they were not paid during a six-week training course, despite believing they were entitled to it, and were asked to sign off on practical experience they had not had so they could be quickly given qualifications to work on site. However, Guardian Australia revealed on Friday that some Rockstar trainees said they were not paid during a six-week training course, despite believing they were entitled to it, and were asked to sign off on practical experience they had not had so they could be quickly given qualifications to work on site.
“I know that a lot of people do it and they just manage to wing it somehow without hurting anybody or killing anybody else or themselves,” one trainee said.“I know that a lot of people do it and they just manage to wing it somehow without hurting anybody or killing anybody else or themselves,” one trainee said.
“That was my biggest worry: being expected to do something that I didn’t know how to do.”“That was my biggest worry: being expected to do something that I didn’t know how to do.”
There were also allegations that logbooks were mysteriously lost, and complaints were ignored.There were also allegations that logbooks were mysteriously lost, and complaints were ignored.
A spokesman for the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet – which oversees the Indigenous Employment Program – told Guardian Australia on Monday the government had begun “an assessment of claims raised in the media concerning the current Indigenous Employment Programme contract with MacMahon Holdings Limited”.A spokesman for the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet – which oversees the Indigenous Employment Program – told Guardian Australia on Monday the government had begun “an assessment of claims raised in the media concerning the current Indigenous Employment Programme contract with MacMahon Holdings Limited”.
“Details of this assessment are not yet available, but we expect that it will help establish whether any workers have not received their due entitlements,” he said.“Details of this assessment are not yet available, but we expect that it will help establish whether any workers have not received their due entitlements,” he said.
“The Australian government treats any allegations of impropriety involving government funding and programs very seriously.”“The Australian government treats any allegations of impropriety involving government funding and programs very seriously.”
Construction of the $340m onshore facilities development by Macmahon Holdings and John Holland Joint Venture was officially launched in May 2012 by the then prime minister Julia Gillard, and will employ up to 3,000 people. The developer became John Holland Territoria Civil when John Holland’s parent company, Leighton Holdings, bought out the Macmahon construction ventures in September.Construction of the $340m onshore facilities development by Macmahon Holdings and John Holland Joint Venture was officially launched in May 2012 by the then prime minister Julia Gillard, and will employ up to 3,000 people. The developer became John Holland Territoria Civil when John Holland’s parent company, Leighton Holdings, bought out the Macmahon construction ventures in September.
The operator of the Inpex Ichthys project is also investigating the allegations made against the subcontractor in charge of the site development civil works and remote laydown area of the Blaydin Point processing facility.The operator of the Inpex Ichthys project is also investigating the allegations made against the subcontractor in charge of the site development civil works and remote laydown area of the Blaydin Point processing facility.
A spokesman for Inpex told Guardian Australia: “As operator of the Ichthys LNG Project, Inpex is reviewing the allegations made in the Guardian Australia about a training program organised by a subcontractor working under our lead onshore contractor JKC Australia LNG Pty Ltd in Darwin.A spokesman for Inpex told Guardian Australia: “As operator of the Ichthys LNG Project, Inpex is reviewing the allegations made in the Guardian Australia about a training program organised by a subcontractor working under our lead onshore contractor JKC Australia LNG Pty Ltd in Darwin.
“Inpex, our Ichthys Project Joint Venture Participants and our contractors and subcontractors take any allegation relating to safety or equal employment opportunities seriously and we are committed to maximising employment opportunities for ATSI peoples.”“Inpex, our Ichthys Project Joint Venture Participants and our contractors and subcontractors take any allegation relating to safety or equal employment opportunities seriously and we are committed to maximising employment opportunities for ATSI peoples.”
Inpex would not confirm any details relating to the nature of the review.Inpex would not confirm any details relating to the nature of the review.
A spokesman for the minister for Indigenous affairs, Nigel Scullion, told Guardian Australia on Friday “the minister has asked the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet to review the situation to ensure the organisation is delivering outcomes in accordance with its obligations under the Indigenous Employment Program contract.”A spokesman for the minister for Indigenous affairs, Nigel Scullion, told Guardian Australia on Friday “the minister has asked the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet to review the situation to ensure the organisation is delivering outcomes in accordance with its obligations under the Indigenous Employment Program contract.”
John Holland Territoria Civil investigated some of the allegations internally last year and said they found “deficiencies” in the training program, but these were now addressed.John Holland Territoria Civil investigated some of the allegations internally last year and said they found “deficiencies” in the training program, but these were now addressed.
“In consultation with relevant training authorities, we addressed these issues and training subsequently recommenced with stringent protocols in place,” a spokeswoman told Guardian Australia on Friday.“In consultation with relevant training authorities, we addressed these issues and training subsequently recommenced with stringent protocols in place,” a spokeswoman told Guardian Australia on Friday.
The Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet said on Friday it was unaware of any internal investigation but was making further inquiries.The Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet said on Friday it was unaware of any internal investigation but was making further inquiries.