No levy for miners' healthcare

WA’s Health Minister has ruled out forcing mining companies to offer financial support to health services in rural areas despite the influx of fly-in, fly-out workers crippling practices.

A House of Representatives inquiry into the fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) workforce has been told that doctors were overwhelmed by the number of miners with drug and alcohol problems, workplace accidents and sexually transmitted infections.

However, Dr Kim Hames said there was a “huge variety” of factors that influenced demand for additional primary services, which should not just be