Help for Queensland workers

THE HON BILL SHORTEN MP

Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations

THE HON kate ellis MP

Minister for Employment Participation

MEDIA RELEASE

18 September 2012

The Gillard Government is rolling out immediate and targeted support in Queensland in the wake of the State Government’s decision to axe 14,000 public sector jobs.

Employment Minister Bill Shorten said the $850,000 package is aimed at helping axed workers find new jobs and minimise the flow-on impacts to non-government organisations that will no longer have access to State Government funding to deliver services to Queenslanders.

“The Gillard Government stands for job creation and since 2007, around 800,000 jobs have been created in Australia, an outstanding result given the disappearance of millions of jobs in the rest of the world,” Mr Shorten said.

“Making the hard choices about our economy isn’t about cuts to schools and hospitals and tearing away frontline services. That’s no way to build a stronger economy that delivers for all Australians.”

“Without our public sector workforce and the hard work they do, Australia would not be as modern, would not be as fair, would not be as safe, well governed and would not be as compassionate.”

“Unlike Conservative governments we do not blame council and state workers for all the problems in the world.”

“The Australian Government is taking action to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Queensland community to make sure they get back on their feet and that more Queenslanders are working.”

Mr Shorten said immediate Australian Government assistance available to workers made redundant as a result of the Queensland Government cuts includes: 

•  Three of the Government’s highly successful Jobs and Skills Expos in the coming weeks in Brisbane, Townsville and Ipswich-Logan; and  
•  over 30 information and assistance workshops on job seeking, assistance and support across mostly regional locations for workers and for non-government/Community Providers affected by Queensland Government public service cuts.

Minister for Employment Participation Kate Ellis said the Expos will bring together employers, employment services providers and training organisations with job seekers on one day – creating a one-stop-shop for jobs and training.

“The Australian Government has delivered 58 Jobs and Skills Expos and we know that they work because we’ve now seen more than 21,000 Australians find employment at them and many thousands more sign up for training opportunities,” Ministers Ellis said.

“We’re going to work to use this successful program to assist those 14,000 Queenslanders who’ve been axed by Campbell Newman and build on the great results these Expos have delivered.”

Mr Shorten said the jobs and information workshops will be developed and delivered by experienced private sector employment experts, together with the Australian Government’s Local Employment Coordinators, Regional Education, Skills and Jobs Co-ordinators and other officials from DEEWR and DHS and will also include information about how to access financial and mental health counselling if required.

“These programs will see Australian Government departments come together to provide access to real jobs and the financial and emotional support that is now required by so many in Queensland.”