The latest protest against the BHP FIFO camp, near Newman in WA, has come from the dark side.
A two-part video titled FIFO Wars has been anonymously posted on YouTube, just in time for the release of the new Star Wars movie and sees Premier Colin Barnett starring as Darth Vadar and Nationals leader Terry Redman as Luke Skywalker.
The video is another sign of disapproval for the Kurra Village, a camp for FIFO workers from BHP’s Mount Whaleback iron ore mine.
More than 1500 people have signed a petition urging Premier Barnett to “save Newman from becoming a ghost town” , after he approved to extend the camp, with a capacity of 1200 beds, by 20 years.
“It’s time for Colin Barnett to answer to the Newman community and end his support of BHP’s Kurra Village lease extension. If the 1600-bed FIFO camp lease is approved beyond the 31st December 2015 the Pilbara town of Newman will die a slow death,” the petition site said.
“Newman has been emptied and the working population has been fractured from the community. The town centre is dying as business owners shut up shop and let go of hundreds of local staff with dwindling shoppers and rising vacancies.
“With more than 4000 short stay rooms sitting predominantly vacant in town and upwards of 300 vacant BHP homes, the Kurra Village lease extension will be the final death knell for the community. The decision is firmly in Colin Barnetts hands, with the Nationals Leader, Terry Redman strongly opposed to the decision. It’s time to do the right thing Colin Barnett and honour your Pilbara Cities vision. Say no to Kurra!”
Mr Redman is refusing to sign the deal unless BHP reduces the size of the camp to 600 beds.
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