Stop demonising FIFO families

Greens MLC Alison Xamon in Parliament tonight called on MPs and other public commentators to stop vilifying fly-in, fly-out families and instead focus on the many benefits that FIFO workers bring to families and communities.

“It’s appalling that hard working WA families are characterised as bad parents just because they have a different working and family arrangements than some other families,” Ms Xamon, Greens WA spokesperson for Communities,said today.  

“Labels like ‘home wreckers’, ‘cashed up bogans’, and ‘parasites’, all of which have been used to describe FIFO workers, are deeply offensive and can contribute to social isolation,” said Ms Xamon

Around 50,000 WA workers are FIFO or DIDO (drive in drive out) and nearly 50% are in the resources sector.  This number is set to increase significantly in the future.

“For some families, FIFO is their only opportunity to get ahead. Considering recent reports showing that more than 36,000 WA households were unable to pay their power bills this year, we should celebrate families that are working hard to provide financial security, not condemn them.

“I have also heard of children being judged at school because their teachers accept popular rhetoric, expecting the worst from these kids, rather than judging them on their own merits.

“We are in danger of pathologising a legitimate working and family lifestyle choice.

“This is discriminatory and hurtful and ordinary Western Australians are being targeted. Parenting is not easy for any family, and it is time we started treating these families with some respect,” concluded Ms Xamon.