Published Thursday, 01 February, 2007 at 02:00 PM
Minister for State Development, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
MINISTER URGES COAST’S MARINE INDUSTRY TO EMBRACE CHANGE
Minister for State Development John Mickel today urged the Gold Coast region’s marine industry to embrace changes that would help it remain competitive in the face of tough overseas competition.
Speaking at the launch of the stage one report into the Marine Industry Supply Chain Project at the Coomera Marine Precinct today, Mr Mickel said the marine industry faced incredible opportunities if it could overcome a number of challenges.
“Competition from overseas manufacturers is not going to let up,” he said.
“With an industry that means so much to this region, and to the State of Queensland as a whole, and one that we have a natural competitive advantage in and so much experience, we can’t afford not to arm ourselves with the tools necessary to face our challengers head on.”
The report, released by consultants Gibsons, outlined a number of key issues for the local industry including the need to improve manufacturing processes; the importance of developing skill levels and access to technology amongst the current workforce and the imperative to more effectively manage supply chains.
“This project will call for change from local industry, there will be more challenges ahead – but I can assure you that the industry will be moving forward with the full support of all levels of government and the benefits will certainly be worthwhile,” Mr Mickel said.
Mr Mickel said the project was developed under the Leading Smart Regions initiative.
“This initiative was the Queensland Government’s response to the national Framework for Cooperation in Regional Economic Development agreed to by the Federal and State Ministers and the Australian Local Government Association,” he said.
“Here, regional stakeholders, not central bureaucracies, are determining regional priorities.
“And today I make particular mention of those partners in SouthROC (Southern Region of Councils) including my Department’s State Development Centres at Springwood, Beenleigh and on the Gold Coast, who have been working for some time towards a shared economic vision.
“The Marine Industry Supply Chain project is just one local initiative that will benefit the wider economy here in South East Queensland and Northern New South Wales.”
This project has been supported and funded by the Queensland Government’s Department of State Development, the Federal Government’s Regional Partnership Program, Gold Coast City Council, the NSW Department of State and Regional Development, Redland Shire Council, the Tweed Economic Development Corporation, the Northern Rivers Regional Economic Development Board and the Gold Coast Marine Industry Association.
Mr Mickel said a more competitive local marine industry could be looking at more than $550,000 in new investment, $520,000 in new exports, more than $2 million in domestic sales and 46 new jobs over the next three years.
The Minister said the Department of State Development – through the Gold Coast State Development Centre and the Marine Industries and Fibre Composites Unit
was continuing its work on the proposed Marine Development Centre and the Skills Formation Strategy.
“It is pleasing to see local industry take up of these initiatives and a commitment to developing local solutions,” he said.
“We’re working very hard on finding solutions that will ensure our marine workforce of the future is highly skilled and has access to the absolute latest technologies.”
Media contact: Chris Brown 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion 3224 6784.
1, February 2007
Speaking at the launch of the stage one report into the Marine Industry Supply Chain Project at the Coomera Marine Precinct today, Mr Mickel said the marine industry faced incredible opportunities if it could overcome a number of challenges.
“Competition from overseas manufacturers is not going to let up,” he said.
“With an industry that means so much to this region, and to the State of Queensland as a whole, and one that we have a natural competitive advantage in and so much experience, we can’t afford not to arm ourselves with the tools necessary to face our challengers head on.”
The report, released by consultants Gibsons, outlined a number of key issues for the local industry including the need to improve manufacturing processes; the importance of developing skill levels and access to technology amongst the current workforce and the imperative to more effectively manage supply chains.
“This project will call for change from local industry, there will be more challenges ahead – but I can assure you that the industry will be moving forward with the full support of all levels of government and the benefits will certainly be worthwhile,” Mr Mickel said.
Mr Mickel said the project was developed under the Leading Smart Regions initiative.
“This initiative was the Queensland Government’s response to the national Framework for Cooperation in Regional Economic Development agreed to by the Federal and State Ministers and the Australian Local Government Association,” he said.
“Here, regional stakeholders, not central bureaucracies, are determining regional priorities.
“And today I make particular mention of those partners in SouthROC (Southern Region of Councils) including my Department’s State Development Centres at Springwood, Beenleigh and on the Gold Coast, who have been working for some time towards a shared economic vision.
“The Marine Industry Supply Chain project is just one local initiative that will benefit the wider economy here in South East Queensland and Northern New South Wales.”
This project has been supported and funded by the Queensland Government’s Department of State Development, the Federal Government’s Regional Partnership Program, Gold Coast City Council, the NSW Department of State and Regional Development, Redland Shire Council, the Tweed Economic Development Corporation, the Northern Rivers Regional Economic Development Board and the Gold Coast Marine Industry Association.
Mr Mickel said a more competitive local marine industry could be looking at more than $550,000 in new investment, $520,000 in new exports, more than $2 million in domestic sales and 46 new jobs over the next three years.
The Minister said the Department of State Development – through the Gold Coast State Development Centre and the Marine Industries and Fibre Composites Unit
was continuing its work on the proposed Marine Development Centre and the Skills Formation Strategy.
“It is pleasing to see local industry take up of these initiatives and a commitment to developing local solutions,” he said.
“We’re working very hard on finding solutions that will ensure our marine workforce of the future is highly skilled and has access to the absolute latest technologies.”
Media contact: Chris Brown 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion 3224 6784.
1, February 2007