OPERATION FARM CLEAR CREATES JOBS FOR THE FUTURE

ON-the-job training and skills development will be a lasting legacy of Operation Farm Clear, a temporary program set up to help cyclone-affected farms in the far north, Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries Tim Mulherin said today.

OFC – an initiative of DPI&F, the State Government’s Cyclone Larry Employment Assistance Package and local primary industry organisations – has cleared 400 farms of cyclone debris and the work is continuing.

“Cyclone Larry left a massive trail of destruction that made it impossible for many farmers to get their operations back to normal after the March 20 cyclone,’’ Mr Mulherin said.

“Operation Farm Clear has been available to those producers who need outside help.

“Getting farms operational again is vital to the economy in this region.

“That’s why we put together as quickly as possible a special team of workers to clear the debris.

“But while Operation Farm Clear has been meeting our primary objectives, the program is also providing valuable on-the-job training on a range of skills to assist the workers in improving their future job prospects.

“At present, we employ 135 workers under a Community Jobs Plan project.

“Many of these people were unemployed or were displaced from their employment as a direct result of Cyclone Larry.”

Mr Mulherin said many of the workers had already achieved certificates in operating a chainsaw, General Safety Induction (Construction Industry) Card and first aid.

“We have appointed a training officer, Phil Colbert, to work with industry to identify skills and training to help staff gain skills that will assist them in getting new jobs after this project has wound up,” he said.

“A number of OFC staff will undertake courses in chemical handling and pest and disease control. The banana industry is keen to employ workers with these skills.

“An irrigation management course is also being planned.”

Mr Mulherin said what was happening with these staff was consistent with his Seven Point Plan, which he formulated as a set of guiding principles for working with industry to improve conditions in primary industry and regional Queensland.

“One of the seven points in the plan is to focus on improving the skills of the workforce in the regions to ensure that the industries and the people living here have the qualifications needed to meet the challenges that lie ahead,” Mr Mulherin said.

“It’s not enough to simply say we are good enough to compete with primary industries around the world – we have to have appropriately skilled people in order to be competitive.”

Mr Mulherin said the sugar industry had identified the need for more skilled workers with machinery tickets.

“We are working with the industry to arrange training for haul-out operators,” he said.

“When some of our first inductees finish with the project in November, they will have the experience and skills that should make them valuable workers across all primary industries.”

Media:David Potter 32396530