Seven FIFO suicides on Northern Territory gas project show need for code of practice, unions say
AM By Felicity James

Northern Territory trade unions have called for a FIFO formal code of practice, saying seven fly-in, fly-out workers from Darwin's Inpex Ichthys gas project took their own lives over the past three years.

The mental health of FIFO workers has been under the spotlight across Australia but Unions NT secretary Brian Wilkins said the Northern Territory had largely avoided scrutiny.

"We know for a fact, so far on the Inpex project, seven workers have taken their own lives," Mr Wilkins said.

All we can do when we talk to those people is refer them off to help, but that's doing something after the problem has occurred.

"There's only been one in the camp, but we know that seven of the workers from that site have taken their lives.

"This shouldn't be happening, it can be stopped."

At its peak, up to 8,000 people are employed on the Inpex project, with FIFO workers staying at a 3,500 bed camp in Darwin's rural area.

Mr Wilkins said he had been contacted by several FIFO workers dealing with mental distress.

"I feel very powerless when that happens," Mr Wilkins said.

"All we can do when we talk to those people is refer them off to help, but that's doing something after the problem has occurred. We need to be proactive."

30pc of FIFO workers have mental health issues

A recent parliamentary inquiry in Western Australia found 30 per cent of FIFO workers had mental health problems, compared with a national average of 20 per cent.

The inquiry recommended a Code of Practice for FIFO work, to encourage even-time rostering, fatigue management, awareness of mental health and access to quality communication services.

Unions NT said it had more than 600 signatures on a petition calling for a similar code of practice in the Northern Territory.

Shane, 40, is a boilermaker working a four-week-on, one-week-off roster.

"When someone does take their life, it has a devastating effect on our community, within the FIFO community, because it's a small community," he said.

"When we're away from home, they're our family - they're our brothers and sisters."

Shane said the motel lifestyle - which involves constantly shifting rooms - and problems communicating with family and friends made FIFO work more difficult than it had to be.

"Not being able to necessarily have good contact with home, being the internet and the phone... you're relying on them," he said.