Published Tuesday, 27 February, 2007 at 04:48 PM
Minister for State Development, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE ON THE WAY FOR RETRENCHED WORKERS
The State Government will provide assistance to help workers at the Twin Hills gold mine and processing mill near Charters Towers find alternative work.
Twin Hills Operations was placed into administration on 30 January after the mine and mill were found to be financially unviable, and the operation is expected to close in March.
State Development Minister John Mickel said the closure would affect 90 Twin Hills employees.
“Charters Towers is a small community of fewer than 10 000 people. The loss of 90 jobs will increase unemployment in the area by 25 per cent,” Mr Mickel said.
“Queensland’s unemployment rate is the lowest in the country and that’s an achievement we’re proud of and will continue to work hard to sustain.”
Minister Mickel said the State Government had approved up to $2000 per worker for training and job preparation assistance under the Worker Assistance Program (WAP), which was introduced in 1999 to minimise the impact of large-scale retrenchments on remote or rural communities.
“The program is a type of ‘safety-net’ that has been put in place to ensure transitional unemployment does not develop into long-term unemployment.
“Since 1999 more than 70 WAPs have helped over 5000 people secure alternative employment.
“Recent survey results suggest the program has about an 85 per cent success rate, with retrenched workers finding alternative employment within six months.”
Media contact: Chris Brown 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion 3224 6784.
27 February, 2007
Twin Hills Operations was placed into administration on 30 January after the mine and mill were found to be financially unviable, and the operation is expected to close in March.
State Development Minister John Mickel said the closure would affect 90 Twin Hills employees.
“Charters Towers is a small community of fewer than 10 000 people. The loss of 90 jobs will increase unemployment in the area by 25 per cent,” Mr Mickel said.
“Queensland’s unemployment rate is the lowest in the country and that’s an achievement we’re proud of and will continue to work hard to sustain.”
Minister Mickel said the State Government had approved up to $2000 per worker for training and job preparation assistance under the Worker Assistance Program (WAP), which was introduced in 1999 to minimise the impact of large-scale retrenchments on remote or rural communities.
“The program is a type of ‘safety-net’ that has been put in place to ensure transitional unemployment does not develop into long-term unemployment.
“Since 1999 more than 70 WAPs have helped over 5000 people secure alternative employment.
“Recent survey results suggest the program has about an 85 per cent success rate, with retrenched workers finding alternative employment within six months.”
Media contact: Chris Brown 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion 3224 6784.
27 February, 2007