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Latrobe Valley’s rising unemployment highlighted in ParliamentMember for Morwell Russell Northe highlighted rising unemployment in Latrobe Valley this week in Parliament. He enumerated the possible reasons of this unfavourable situation. Read the full article to learn more. By Portal Admin - 2nd September 2016 - Back to News Member for Morwell Russell Northe highlighted rising unemployment in Latrobe Valley this week in Parliament.
Mr Northe said it has been a challenging time for businesses in Gippsland, with the Andrews Labor Government making a series of decisions that has stifled business growth in the region.
In addition to Labor axing key local economic development programs, they have also imposed massive costs to some of our major employers and left uncertainty across a number of other local industries.
Since December 2014, Daniel Andrews has:
- Axed the Coalition government’s $15 million Latrobe Valley Industry and Infrastructure Fund
- Stopped the Coalition’s "Putting Locals First" fund
- Cut the Coalition Government’s $20 million Regional Partnerships Facilitation Fund
- Increased the coal royalty tax by $252 million for Latrobe Valley power generators
- Halted local coal related projects through the Advanced Lignite Demonstration Project
- Announced a Renewable Energy Target with no information on what impact this will have on local jobs, electricity prices or energy security
- Created uncertainty for one of our major employers, Australian Paper, as the Government considers the creation of the Great Forest National Park and sits idle as gas prices increase markedly (Australian Paper are one of the largest users of gas in Victoria)
These decisions by the Andrews Labor Government have pushed up unemployment in the Latrobe region, from 7.3 per cent in December 2014 to 9.3 per cent.
I implore Daniel Andrews to stop talking and start doing, to increase business confidence in our region.
Please find a copy of my speech at the link below:
http://hansard.parliament.vic.gov.au/isysquery/6aabff52-132a-4d18-b726-43dde14ffb2b/1/doc/
Media contact: 5133 9088
Office of Russell Northe MLA
Member for Morwell
Shadow Minister for Consumer Affairs
Shadow Minister for Liquor and Gaming Regulation
Russell Northe MLA
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: support@gippsland.com

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