Govt mobilises worker support

Information sessions are being offered to Queensland Nickel workers in Townsville tomorrow as the Palaszczuk Government’s rapid response effort ramps up locally.

Government champion and Minister Assisting the Premier on North Queensland Coralee O’Rourke today encouraged all QN employees to take advantage of the sessions at the Riverway Arts Centre auditorium.

The one-hour sessions will consist of a group half-hour briefing, after which individuals will be able to speak one-on-one with staff from Centrelink and state agencies.

Minister O’Rourke said the forums were to give employees the essential information they needed immediately, while waiting to hear from the QN administrator, FTI Consulting.

“The future at QN is now in the hands of the administrator now that the company has been placed into voluntary administration,” she said.

“State Government representatives have had a positive meeting with the administrator where we have agreed to continue to share information and work together as appropriate.

“We have emphasized that our priority is the employees.

“Our focus is firmly on the employees and accelerating our capital works program to make jobs available in the north and throughout regional Queensland.”

Forum details are:

When: 3pm, 4pm and 5pm

Where: Riverway Arts Centre Auditorium

20 Village Boulevard, Thuringowa Central.

Representatives from the Federal Government’s Centrelink, and the Queensland Government Departments of Education and Training, and Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services and not-for-profit organisations will be on hand offering assistance and information about:

• continuing employment and training information
• payment information and support services
• access to income support and referral to other services
• counselling services.

Mrs O’Rourke said further forums would be held as required.

Affected workers can access support services by calling 13QGov (13 74 68) or by visiting statedevelopment.qld.gov.au/workertransition.

[ENDS]           18 January, 2016

Media contact:           Alana Iles 0434 849 454