Funding boost to jobs-creating program for regional Queensland

The Palaszczuk Government is providing a $20 million Budget boost to its successful Jobs and Regional Growth Fund to continue to deliver in regional Queensland.

Visiting Hawker Pacific in Cairns today, Acting Premier and Treasurer Jackie Trad said the increase would take the program’s total funding to $150 million over three years.

“The Jobs and Regional Growth Fund is creating jobs by helping to facilitate private sector projects that create sustainable economic development in regional Queensland,” Ms Trad said.

“We are committed to ensuring that the benefits from Queensland’s continued economic growth are felt right across this state, and this additional $20 million will do just that.

“Thanks to this fund businesses like Hawker Pacific in Cairns are expanding and will be able to take on more than thirty additional staff including a number of local apprentices.”

Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning Cameron Dick said that since its launch last year, the fund had attracted applications from Queensland industry looking to kick-start big-thinking projects.

Enterprises that have already been successful include:

• Cape York Timber in Cooktown is expanding its production capacity of high-quality sustainable Australian hardwood and is providing additional Indigenous employment
• Swickers is undertaking large-scale expansion programs that will increase supply and almost double processing capabilities at its abattoir at Kingaroy and piggery north-west of Dalby
• Hawker Pacific is expanding its Cairns Airport hangar facilities enabling it to take on more heavy maintenance work
• JBS Australia has created a targeted program to employ and train up to 400 displaced abattoir workers in the Ipswich region

Mr Dick said that with additional applications nearing final approvals, the Government anticipated that the fund would continue to be a catalyst in creating long-term jobs, driving new capital investment and boosting regional Queensland economies.

“We are committed to ensuring that the benefits from Queensland’s continued economic growth are felt right across this state, and this increased funding will do just that,” Mr Dick said.

Hawker Pacific’s vice-president for maintenance repair overhaul services, Jason Burzacott said that the investment from the fund had enabled them to expand.

“The investment delivered by the Jobs and Regional Growth Fund has directly enabled us to expand our business, compete for bigger contracts and bring on new staff,” Mr Burzacott said.

“It’s going towards building a new $4.5 million facility that will help us capture more heavy vehicle maintenance work that formerly would have been sent interstate or overseas.”

Member for Mulgrave Curtis Pitt said local businesses would welcome the announcement.

“By injecting more money in this fund, we are giving more Cairns businesses the chance to grow, diversify and bring on more employees, just like Hawker Pacific has done,” Mr Pitt said.

Member for Barron River Craig Crawford said that what Hawker Pacific had done demonstrated what was possible.

“I want to encourage businesses from Cairns and across the Far North to look at the success here at Hawker and think about the incredible benefits this fund could mean for your team and for jobs in our region,” Mr Crawford said.

Member for Cairns Michael Healy said that he was excited about the opportunities in his local community.

“I’m proud that Hawker Pacific is based right here in my electorate. They’ve demonstrated exactly what can be achieved when the private sector and the Government work together to grow jobs,” Mr Healy said.

For more information on the Jobs and Regional Growth Fund, visit www.dsdmip.qld.gov.au/jobs-and-regional-growth-fund.

Media contact: Clare Manton 0432 446 268