State Budget will continue focus on jobs

Next month’s 2017-18 State Budget will continue the Palaszczuk’s Government’s focus on job-creation, says Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Industry, Curtis Pitt.

Mr Pitt said today’s ABS unemployment figures showing the state’s April trend unemployment rate steady at 6.4 per cent were evidence that the Palaszczuk Government was right in focussing on jobs since taking office. 

“As a government we have been implementing an economic plan with a single-minded focus on creating jobs that’s been reflected in the two State Budgets I have delivered so far,” he said.

“Today’s ABS figures confirm our plan to continue focussing on creating jobs and the State Budget on 13 June will do just that — and unlike the Federal Budget ours will not make promises without backing them with real funding, especially when it comes to job-creating infrastructure projects.”

The ABS figures for Queensland for April show:

• the state’s trend unemployment rate for April at 6.4 per cent compared with the March figure of 6.4 per cent
• the seasonally adjusted rate for April was also steady at 6.3 per cent compared with March
• the figures showed a net 59,200 jobs created since the state election — or 2,190 jobs on average each month.

Mr Pitt said the rate was still lower than the 6.6 per cent inherited from the LNP and the 6.7 per cent it hit for four months at the end of 2014.

Employment Minister Grace Grace said the government’s $100 million Back to Work regional jobs package was supporting thousands of jobs in regional Queensland.

“Our Back to Work program is supporting almost 3,500 jobs in regional Queensland, with almost 1,500 further applications pending,” Ms Grace said.

“This is a fantastic program that’s getting Queenslanders back to work, while boosting regional economies.”

Visiting Logan-based manufacturer Vadain International today, the Treasurer said resurgent economic growth under Labor and increasing business optimism was giving southeast Queensland businesses the confidence to hire – just as the Back to Work program has given regional businesses confidence to employ.

“Logan has been experiencing higher than average unemployment levels compared to other parts of the state but in just the last two weeks Vadain has hired an additional three staff,” Mr Pitt said.

“This enterprising Dutch company invested $2 million establishing itself in Logan just three years ago and has already grown its operations to employ and train around local 40 people in manufacturing custom-made curtains and blinds.

“I would like to congratulate Vadain on choosing to bring their innovative technology and practices to help stimulate and re-vitalise manufacturing in Logan City.”

The company has also been working with nearby schools to provide students with practical experience and skills with a view to employment.

Vadain General Manager Gert Buitink said he was pleased with the company’s success and to be taking on additional staff.

“Our staff retention rates are high and we receive lots of resumes from family members and friends of our current staff,” Mr Buitink said.

“This is showing me that people enjoy working here.

“We try to be flexible and believe our staff is our biggest asset. We also invest in staff training and upskilling staff on our custom-built machinery.”

Mr Pitt said job-creating initiatives delivered by the Palaszczuk Government included:

• a $40 billion, four-year, job-creating infrastructure program
• doubling of payroll tax incentives from 25 per cent to 50 per cent for employers taking on trainees and apprentices
• $10,000 and $15,000 Back to Work incentives targeted at employers in regional communities hiring unemployed and long-term unemployed jobseekers
• a $20,000 Back to Work Youth Boost for regional employers hiring jobseekers aged 15-24
• the $130 million Jobs and Regional Growth Fund to foster new industries, business expansion, economic growth, and new jobs in regional communities
• the $200 million Works for Queensland program to support local councils undertaking job-creating works projects
• the $405 million Advance Queensland Package to foster innovation and investment in jobs of the future as well as develop new jobs in our traditional strengths such as agriculture, tourism, manufacturing, education, and health,
• reintroduction of the Skilling Queenslanders for Work program axed by the Newman-Nicholls Government with $240 million over four years to help an estimated 32,000 jobseekers train for and secure jobs.
• the $33.5 million Advance Queensland Connecting with Asia Strategy to boost tourism, flights and local jobs, with an extra $128.3 million over four years providing funding certainty to Tourism and Events Queensland.

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