Mackay employment forum seeks to generate jobs

Employment Minister Grace Grace said job creation would be top of the agenda at an employment forum being held in Mackay today.

Ms Grace will attend the forum with the Member for Mackay Julieanne Gilbert, along with business and industry groups and local government leaders.

“This employment forum is about generating local jobs and employment opportunities for Mackay residents,” Ms Grace said.

“We’ll work with business, industry and local government to generate more jobs and employment opportunities in the region.

“The Palaszczuk Government fights for jobs and that’s what I’m doing as Employment Minister in Mackay.”

Mrs Gilbert said in the past few years employment in the Mackay region had been impacted by the downturn in commodity prices.

“At 7.6 per cent, Mackay’s unemployment rate is higher than the State’s 6.1 per cent trend unemployment rate,” she said.

“This highlights the importance of our accelerated works program, which is all about providing jobs and employment opportunities for locals.

“It’s why we have brought forward $75 million in capital works for the Mackay region under our accelerated works program.

“These projects will support 177 jobs – and that’s a great start.”

Some of the projects included in the accelerated works program for the Mackay region include:

• $28 million for the Vines Creek Bridge;
• $6.75 million for material offloading facilities at Abbott Point and Hay Point;
• $1.1 million for Mackay Harbour East upgrade of intersection and port road; and
• $3.9 million for maintenance projects in eight schools across Mackay and the Bowen Basin.

“These projects will make sure that money spent on Mackay creates jobs in Mackay for local businesses and local tradies,” Mrs Gilbert said.

The Palaszczuk Government’s next regional employment forum will be held in Maryborough on Wednesday 9 March.

Media Contact: Martin Philip 0427 919 548