Published Sunday, 11 February, 2007 at 08:00 AM
Minister for State Development, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
COORDINATORS TO HELP PLAN FUTURE BANANA INDUSTRY LABOUR STRATEGY
The Queensland Government is to fund two labour coordinators to help plan for future labour requirements for the state’s banana industry.
Minister for Employment and Training John Mickel today announced that the two coordinators would be employed by the Australian Banana Growers Council in partnership with Growcom following the labour summit held in Cairns in January.
The summit was called to discuss severe labour shortages in the banana industry in the wake of the devastation caused by Cyclone Larry last year.
Mr Mickel said initial funding of $120 000 would be provided to enable employment of the two labour coordinators for six months, with an option for another six months if required.
“The coordinators will work with the banana industry and local employment service providers to address the immediate labour shortage”, Mr Mickel said.
“They will also develop strategies to assist industry in the longer term. Bananas are harvested year-round in north Queensland and as a result a large workforce is required 12 months of the year.”
Mr Mickel said that while the banana industry was the backbone of the north Queensland horticultural industry, the analysis of labour issues would not be restricted to banana growing.
He said the issue of training unemployed people to work in the banana industry already was being addressed by a number of projects being funded under the Queensland Government’s $18.56 million Cyclone Larry Employment Assistance Package.
“It is envisaged that the labour coordinators will be able to source and refer suitable local unemployed people to existing training programs and work with existing local networks to establish additional training that may be required”.
CEO of the Australian Banana Growers Council Tony Heidrich said the establishment of the labour coordinator positions would be welcomed by banana growers struggling to cope with the shortage of labour and skills.
“A shortage of skilled workers in particular is of increasing concern to our industry and we note this will be a specific focus of the labour coordinators”, Mr Heidrich said.
“We look forward to the commencement of this very timely Queensland Government initiative”.
Media Contacts: Chris Brown on 3224 7359 or Elouise Campion on 3224 6784
11 February, 2007
Minister for Employment and Training John Mickel today announced that the two coordinators would be employed by the Australian Banana Growers Council in partnership with Growcom following the labour summit held in Cairns in January.
The summit was called to discuss severe labour shortages in the banana industry in the wake of the devastation caused by Cyclone Larry last year.
Mr Mickel said initial funding of $120 000 would be provided to enable employment of the two labour coordinators for six months, with an option for another six months if required.
“The coordinators will work with the banana industry and local employment service providers to address the immediate labour shortage”, Mr Mickel said.
“They will also develop strategies to assist industry in the longer term. Bananas are harvested year-round in north Queensland and as a result a large workforce is required 12 months of the year.”
Mr Mickel said that while the banana industry was the backbone of the north Queensland horticultural industry, the analysis of labour issues would not be restricted to banana growing.
He said the issue of training unemployed people to work in the banana industry already was being addressed by a number of projects being funded under the Queensland Government’s $18.56 million Cyclone Larry Employment Assistance Package.
“It is envisaged that the labour coordinators will be able to source and refer suitable local unemployed people to existing training programs and work with existing local networks to establish additional training that may be required”.
CEO of the Australian Banana Growers Council Tony Heidrich said the establishment of the labour coordinator positions would be welcomed by banana growers struggling to cope with the shortage of labour and skills.
“A shortage of skilled workers in particular is of increasing concern to our industry and we note this will be a specific focus of the labour coordinators”, Mr Heidrich said.
“We look forward to the commencement of this very timely Queensland Government initiative”.
Media Contacts: Chris Brown on 3224 7359 or Elouise Campion on 3224 6784
11 February, 2007