Urgent action needed to cut region’s 12.3 percent unemployment rate
15th September, 2011
Federal Member for Wide Bay, Warren Truss, has called on the Gillard and Bligh Labor Governments to take immediate action to tackle the Wide Bay Burnett’s alarming 12.3 percent unemployment rate.“This is the worst result in many years and urgent action is needed,” Mr Truss said.
Figures compiled by the Australian Bureau of Statistics show that unemployment in the Wide Bay Burnett region skyrocketed from 6.9 percent in May, to 10.7 percent in July, to 12.3 percent in August.
When Federal Labor came to office the local unemployment rate was 3.5% - below the national average. The region’s unemployment rate is now the worst in Australia and is more than twice the Queensland average.
“Unemployment affects families, local communities and the regional economy and this high rate shows that there are many people and families doing it tough,” Mr Truss said.
“The Government must do more to ensure that those who want a job can get one. Our region cannot afford Labor’s failed policies and broken promises anymore. The Government must offer immediate assistance and a targeted program of investment to create jobs, support business, grow confidence and strengthen the regional economy.”
Mr Truss also warned that Labor’s carbon tax is damaging confidence and putting pressure on employment.
“The Government must axe its job destroying and confidence sapping carbon tax. This is clearly the wrong time to introduce a great big new tax, which will increase costs for households and business and put more jobs at risk.”
Mr Truss said the Gillard and Bligh Labor Governments had broken their promises to create new jobs.
“The Gillard Government blew the former Government’s $20 billion surplus and plunged the nation into a $200 billion debt in the name of creating jobs, but we have nothing now to show for it. Instead we are left with debt that will saddle a generation,” Mr Truss said.
“As for the State Labor Government, Anna Bligh was clearly not thinking about Wide Bay when she made her infamous promise to create 100,000 new jobs at the last State election. Where are those jobs?”
“We need a comprehensive plan to create jobs and stimulate investment in the region,” Mr Truss said.
“The former Coalition Government’s Sustainable Regions and Regional Partnership programs helped to encourage investment and confidence, which supported jobs and brought the region’s unemployment rate down to 3.5 percent by the end of the Government’s term. We need to restore those policies to get the economy moving.”
Mr Truss said the State Government could create countless jobs in Maryborough by awarding its multi-billion dollar train project to local manufacturer Downer EDI.
“The Bligh Labor Government should ensure that trains for Queensland are built in Maryborough. It should not send a multi-billion train contract offshore to create jobs in Asia,” Mr Truss said.
“The Federal Government could also create jobs in the region by fast tracking the upgrade of the Bruce Highway. We are still waiting for a timetable and financial commitment to complete the outstanding A, C and D Sections of the Cooroy to Curra upgrade, which would create and support many jobs in the region.”
Mr Truss said he is also concerned about the impact of the plan by Labor and The Greens which threatens fishing in up to 13,042 km2 of ocean just off Fraser Island.
“Closure would have a devastating impact on local employment if it proceeds. The Sunshine, Cooloola and Fraser Coast communities rely heavily on the fishing industry and the jobs they create in the tourism and hospitality sectors. We cannot afford to lose these jobs," Mr Truss said.
“In times of economic uncertainty, people look to the Government to provide strong leadership and security. Instead we have a directionless mess, a Government which is hostage to the narrow agenda of The Greens and Independents. Unless the Government takes a broader view, the economy will continue to weaken and jobs will continue to be lost.
“The Government must take action to rebuild confidence, grow skills and ensure business is able to create sustainable jobs. It is only then that we will unlock our region’s true potential.”
