Premier launches jobs squad as Government enters war footing

Premier Anna Bligh has placed the state on a virtual war footing establishing an elite ‘Jobs Squad’ of outside experts to protect jobs in 2009.

“Queensland needs to be on a war footing to face this global crisis. The Government will do everything possible to provide certainty in uncertain times,” said the Premier.

The Premier said the Government has identified 349 skilled jobs in Government Owned Corporations that will be given to the state’s new Rapid Response Flying Squad.

Ms Bligh has also directed;

-Treasury to provide a full briefing on the economic crisis for the entire cabinet at the first cabinet meeting of the year on Tuesday.

-A briefing by leading economic and social commentators for the entire Labor caucus so they understand the consequences of the crisis.

-A comprehensive review of the late 1990s jobs plans established to fight unemployment during the last economic downturn.

-A review across the public sector and services to identify vacant positions that can be provide to the flying squad.

The Premier said she had selected the Jobs Squad from among some of the best minds in Australia to provide rapid response solutions to counter the effects of the financial crisis.

“We have approached the best minds from industry, business, academia, social services unions and the public sector,” she said.

“Every aspect and perspective on the crisis will be represented. They will be the government’s eyes and ears on the ripple effect of the economic crisis.

“These are the people who have their finger on the pulse of what's going on out there in their industry sectors and they need to work with government to come up with innovative solutions to the downturn.

“It’s times like these that we need every shoulder to the wheel, when Government, business, unions and community have to pull together.

“We intend to do everything we can to provide certainty and protect jobs. I want to use the best talent at my disposal and that is exactly what I am going to do.”

ANZ's Chief Economist, Saul Eslake has accepted a role on the Government’s Jobs Squad along with PBL Director and former Qantas CEO Geoff Dixon.

Bank of Queensland CEO David Liddy, Queensland Resources Council President Nicole Hollows and Queensland Director the Australian Industry Group Chris Rodwell will also join.

The Premier said she would meet regularly with the team for a briefing on the effects of the crisis and for advice on rapid responses to emerging problems.

She said the Jobs Squad will;

-Provide ‘insider’ information on the economy

-Provide expert advice on how to protect jobs

-Think outside the square to inform Government policy over the next six months

Ms Bligh said the State Government has conducted a review of Government Owned Corporations and identified 349 vacancies for workers.

Government companies such as Energex, Ergon, Queensland Rail, Sunwater, Stanwell and Tarong Power Stations and the various Ports Corporations have hundreds of skilled positions vacant.

Locations for the jobs range from Brisbane to across the state in centres such as Mackay, Gladstone, Townsville, Rockhampton and Mount Isa.

“We have put these jobs in the back pocket of the Rapid Response Flying Squad who are now touring affected mining centres,” she said.

“They will make every effort to match the skills of those who have lost their jobs to these positions,” said the Premier.

Details will also be given to the companies laying off staff and to Government call centres.

A specific page on the Government web site will also be set up to direct workers towards the positions.

Premier Bligh said she would now launch a review across the entire public sector to identify positions vacant.

“We will leave no stone unturned in terms of finding and filling these positions,” she said.

The Premier said the comprehensive review of government jobs programs established in the late 1990s during the last economic downturn would allow the current government to learn from past experience.

“We have been through this before and I want to draw on that experience to make sure that we recreate the things we did right and avoid any mistakes.

“Queenslanders are tough. We’ve come through bad times before and we will do it again this year.”

Contacts (07) 32244500

PROFILES OF JOBS SQUAD MEMBERS

Gary Black

Gary Black is the Executive Director of the National Retailers Association (NRA) representing the interests of the retail sector to government and the community. Mr Black previously held the position of Director, Employment Law at the NRA and has extensive employee relations experience having previously served with the Queensland Confederation of Industry working with major companies on industrial relations and workforce strategies.

Rod Camm

Rod Camm is chief executive officer of Construction Skills Queensland, a centre of excellence for the state’s building and construction industry established in 2007. Mr Camm has extensive experience of the public sector with a strong bent towards education and training.

Geoff Dixon

Currently the Director of Publishing and Broadcasting Limited (PBL) and Air Pacific Limited, Geoff Dixon is former CEO and Managing Director of Qantas – one of the most successful airlines in the world. He is also a former director of Leighton Holdings and before joining Qantas was Director of Marketing and Industry Sales at Ansett Australia and General Manager of Marketing and Corporate Affairs at Australian Airlines.

Saul Eslake

Saul Eslake is one of Australia’s best known economic commentators. Before becoming the ANZ Bank’s chief economist, he worked in both public and private sectors and is a member of three federal government advisory boards, including the Trade Policy Advisory Council.

John Grant

John Grant is Managing Director of Data#3, one of Australia’s leading information technology companies. Mr Grant is also the Chairman of the Australian Information Industry Association, the ICT industry's peak representative body and a member of the Queensland Government's Ministerial Advisory Group whose charter is to provide advice on ICT industry development policy.

Daniel Gschwind

Daniel Gschwind is the CEO for the Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC), the state’s peak tourism body. He is on the board of Rainforest CRC, Australian Tourism Research Institute, Decipher Technologies and the Marine and Tropical Science Research Facility. Mr Gschwind has previously worked as a senior economist with Queensland Treasury. He is represented on many committees, including the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, and is Adjunct Professor at the School of Tourism and Leisure Management, University of Queensland.

Professor Sandra Harding

Professor Sandra Harding is the Vice-Chancellor and President of James Cook University. Before taking on the role in 2007, she held a number of senior executive roles at Queensland University of Technology, including Deputy Vice-Chancellor (International Development) and Dean of the Business Faculty. Professor Harding has a keen scholarly interest in the areas of work, organisation, education policy and management.

Nicole Hollows

Nicole Hollows, chief executive officer of Macarthur Coal, is the most senior female executive in the Australian mining industry. Mrs Hollows has a strong background in accounting and finance, having been Macarthur Coal’s chief financial officer during four years of strong and sustainable growth before assuming wider responsibilities.

Jill Lang

Born in Kingaroy, Jill Lang has been Director of Queensland Council of Social Services (QCOSS) since May 2005. As QCOSS Director she has focused on “working towards a fair and more socially just Queensland” particularly for those effectively excluded from society by poverty and related disadvantage. Most recently Ms Lang worked in the Department of Communities. She is a trained town planner whose career has focused mainly on social policy and human services planning. Ms Lang has worked as a public policy and planning consultant in New South Wales, the ACT and Queensland. She has also worked in not-for-profit organisations, and in universities in Canberra and Sydney.

David Liddy

David Liddy has been managing director and chief executive officer of the Bank of Queensland since 2001. Mr Liddy has 40 years banking experience, including postings to London and Hong Kong, and a proven record in achieving strong business performance.

Bill Ludwig

Bill Ludwig OAM is the National President of the Australian Workers’ Union (AWU) and has been the Secretary of the Queensland Branch of the AWU since 1988. He is a member of the Australian Council of Trade Unions Executive and Director on committees including SunSuper, Workcover Qld Board. Mr Ludwig is a board member of QLeave and is on the Mining Safety and Health Advisory Council.

Phil Mahoney

Phil Mahoney is Regional Director of The Salvation Army Employment Plus, the largest Job Network provider in Australia. In Queensland, Employment Plus is heavily focused on addressing local skill shortages by tailoring training and development programs. In a pioneering first, the organisation has developed a partnership with the Gold Coast Institute of TAFE where students can access a range of on-campus employment services such as career assessment and placement opportunities. The Queensland team has also developed a partnership with the National Retailers Association.

Ron Monaghan

Ron Monaghan is Secretary of the Queensland Council of Unions. His union career began at the New South Wales branch of the Liquor Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union. He was then elected Assistant Secretary then Secretary of the union’s Queensland branch. Mr Monaghan has been involved in numerous industry campaigns including Clean Start, which saw significant improvements to the working conditions of cleaners, and the first ever equal remuneration application, which sought equal pay for female dental assistants.

Greg Quinn

Greg Quinn has been the CEO of Queensland’s largest family owned building company – Hutchinson Buiders since 2001. Mr Quinn joined Hutchinson’s after 17 years with the Queensland and New South Wales Master Builders Associations where he was Executive Director of both organisations.

Chris Rodwell

Chris Rodwell is the Director of the Australian Industry Group in Queensland. Mr Rodwell holds directorships with Q-Comp, QMI Solutions and Queensland Workplace Health and Safety. Mr Rodwell is also a member of the Queensland Government's Manufacturing Leaders' Group and the SkillsTech Australia Council.

Bill Stoddart

Bill Stoddart has been managing director of metal products producer Stoddart Manufacturing since 1980, during which time it has become a successful, major manufacturing company. In 1992 Mr Stoddart was elected Foundation President of the Australian Stainless Steel Development Association and he is a director of Worldskills Australia.