14 Broome jobs lost

Fourteen people representing 35 per cent of the workforce at the Toll Mermaid Logistics supply base in Broome were made redundant on Friday.

Half-owner the Toll Group said the lay-offs were not sudden and that a downturn in the oil and gas industry was to blame.

The number of on-site staff has now reduced from about 40 to 26.

The redundancies were made across the business, from handling to administration support.

Broome Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Rhondda Chappell was a project manager at the base and was among those who lost their jobs.

“It’s sad for the community of Broome that so many locals have been made redundant, however we understand that Toll Mermaid and other local businesses are responding to the economy and in particular the oil and gas industry,” she said.

Ms Chappell said staff were treated with respect and given advance warning.

“It’s great to know that full entitlements will be paid out,” she said.

Ms Chappell said oil and gas was not the only industry in Broome and that the development of agriculture, aquaculture, tourism and education along with major projects through the Regional Centres program would create more employment and contracting opportunities in the future.

“We encourage the business community concerned about the ramifications of the oil and gas downturn to explore these emerging opportunities and consider diversification,” she said.

“There is business growth on the horizon, now is the time to start looking to those opportunities. Everyone is invited to visit the chamber to discuss business and explore these diversification opportunities.”

Toll Mermaid is a joint venture between the Toll Group and Marine Broome to provide logistics for oil exploration in the region.

A Toll spokesman said there has been reduced demand for these logistics due to reduced activity in oil exploration in the region over the last 12 months

“This was not an unexpected outcome due to the trends in activity and Toll Mermaid has been working with its employees on these scenarios for some time,” he said.

The base has supported major exploration programs by leading oil and gas explorers including BHP Billiton Petroleum, ConocoPhillips, Santos, Shell Development Australia and Woodside Energy Ltd.