LABOR LAUNCHES WORKING QUEENSLAND JOBS PLAN

Media Release

Opposition leader Annastacia Palaszczuk has launched the Labor Party’s jobs plan Working Queensland to create jobs without the need for asset sales.
At Labor’s policy launch in Ipswich today Ms Palaszczuk said: “Labor’s focus has been, is now, and always will be on jobs.
“Unlike the LNP we want Queenslanders to have secure jobs with fair wages and conditions.
“Labor believes governments should do all they can to work with business to help create secure jobs; training for those seeking work or changing jobs; and new jobs for future generations.
“Our jobs plan will provide $50 million over three years to implement the Advance Queensland program to develop the jobs of tomorrow,” she said.
She said Labor would invest $34 million over four years to its Rescuing TAFE policy to fix the damage done by the LNP Government’s cuts and sackings.
Labor’s jobs plan would also provide $2 million for the Queensland Entrepreneurs of Tomorrow program to support education in computational science and business development and to support stay-at-home parents to develop home-based businesses.
Ms Palaszczuk committed a future Labor Government to reintroducing the successful Skilling Queenslanders for Work program.
Ms Palaszczuk said a Labor Government would also ensure 10% of workers on major projects were apprentices and trainees, creating more opportunities for young people, and extending the requirement to government-owned corporations.
“Labor will implement a Locals First program to support local contractors and suppliers through government purchasing and tendering,” she said.
“We will also be legislating against 100% fly-in / fly-out projects, to create more jobs for Queenslanders in regional communities.”
Ms Palaszczuk said the Working Queensland jobs plan included policies announced today while building on a range of jobs policies released previously including:
- the Business Development Fund to invest in joint ventures with start-up firms wanting to turn their bright ideas into new products and create jobs — $40 million over four years,
- Jobs Queensland — a round-table authority to advise on current and future skills demand and long-term workforce planning — $40 million over four years,
- Ready for Work to get young people ready for entering the jobs market — funded under Skilling Queenslanders for Work,
- Payroll Tax Rebates for employers taking on apprentices and trainees — $45 million over three.
Ms Palaszczuk said the Premier promised at the last election that he had a plan to cut unemployment to 4% and cut debt — all without the need for asset sales.
“But now Queensland’s jobless rate is at levels not seen since 2003 and higher than in the global financial crisis,” she said.
“There are now almost 31,000 Queenslanders without a job since March 2012 and youth unemployment is around 20% in some areas. The Premier did not help by sacking 24,000 government workers.
“The LNP’s only answer is a fire-sale of state assets — a sale so risky that it will see more job cuts if sales proceed.
“Yet even the Premier is not sure if he can sell all the assets or get the right price.
“There is a better way for Queensland and that’s Labor’s way — job creation without asset sales,” she said.

Labor has previously committed to investing $40 million over four years to support tourism and tourism sector jobs and $100 million over five years to protect the Great Barrier Reef and the tourism jobs it provides.