Reef boss can’t give guarantee on jobs

THE CEO of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Authority has been unable to confirm if more jobs could be outsourced at Reef HQ.

This comes as Senator Nita Green ( pictured) grilled Joshua Thomas at Senate Estimates yesterday over a number of f dive maintenance crew jobs at the aquarium now being hired through a labour hire company.

When the senator asked Mr Thomas if he could guarantee this move would have no impact on the remaining jobs at Reef HQ, he said: “I can’t make guarantees like that.”

In May, Ms Green wrote to Mr Thomas asking why the process to initiate the outsourcing of the dive maintenance crew operations at Reef HQ had begun.

Mr Thomas told the Senate Estimates the process had been in place for some time and helped with rostering.

“The rostering rearrangements at Reef HQ do not lend themselves neatly to having permanent, full-time employees doing that work,” Mr Thomas said.

“The work is spread across approximately nine full-time staff … there will under any circumstances be a need for (locally sourced) expert divers … we just feel that the reason for going out to market to find an expert provider with the interest of having access to the best available expertise and again achieving the highest and most robust health and safety standards.”

Mr Thomas the nature of diving for more than a designated time meant a “broader workforce” was needed.

Senator Green said it was “incredibly disappointing” that Mr Thomas has been unable to confirm if this move could affect more jobs at Reef HQ.