MARCH 30, 2015: Today I’ve joined with my LNP colleague, Member for Capricornia Michelle Landry, to announce that we will put forward a bill banning forced FIFO.The continuing stalemate over 100 per cent Fly-In Fly-Out (FIFO) arrangements at some Bowen Basin mines has gone on for far too long and it’s time to take some drastic action.We’re taking the call for action straight to the country’s ultimate regulator – Parliament House, by presenting a bill seeking to amend the Fair Work Act (2009).The amendment will essentially stop discrimination against workers based on where they live.I’ve had a number of discussions with BMA in the past asking them to amend 100 per cent FIFO operations but they refuse to budge.Queenslanders then voted for a Labor Government who promised to end 100 per cent FIFO operations but it appears they’ve back-flipped on that promise with Deputy Premier Jackie Trad announcing any changes “would be about new proposals for mines so it won’t be retrospective”.The people of the Mackay region want to see an end to this practice because of the negative impact it is having on the local community.When we return to Parliament in May, Ms Landry and I will put forward this ball banning forced FIFO.We will also be writing to both the Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Leader of the Opposition Bill Shorten seeking bi-partisan support on this when we debate the change.