Tuesday, 30 May 2023

 Joe McCRACKEN (Western Victoria) (13:40): You might be forgiven for thinking I am changing careers given that I have been spotted recently in red overalls, but I can assure you that I have just been down to the gold mine in Ballarat. The mine is currently employing over 200 locals, many living locally, and supporting the Ballarat economy with an over $40 million contribution. Many of the job roles require a STEM background and relevant qualifications. I had the pleasure of going 700 metres underground and seeing firsthand what was happening. I was really impressed by the comprehensive safety procedures that are in place. I saw heavy machinery in action, along with robotic elements used in the resource extraction process. As somebody who had not been in a mine, I was able to have a go at using one of the hand drills – I am not going to do the action because it is pretty embarrassing – and I can report back that I really am not considering changing careers at this point in time. But I would like to publicly thank and recognise the Ballarat Gold Mine – they do have some challenges at this point in time and have over recent years – for their ongoing contribution to the Victorian economy. Ballarat is a city that was built on gold mining, and I hope to see that it can continue to pursue gold mining well into the future.