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Northe questions State Government on lack of support for local projectsAnswers wanted regarding the State Government’s failure to support job-creating projects in Latrobe City. By Portal Admin - 19th August 2018 - Back to News In Parliament this week Member for Morwell Russell Northe has called for answers from the Minister for Employment regarding the State Government’s failure to support job-creating projects in Latrobe City.
"Employment in Latrobe City has risen 22% since the Andrew’s Government took office. They certainly like to talk about all the work they’re doing to create jobs when they step out of Melbourne to make the day trip to visit our area, but the facts are this – since they took office, an additional 600 local people are now out of work" said Mr Northe.
Mr Northe directed his questions this week to ask the Minister for Employment why local developments like the Morwell North West and the Traralgon North Developments, along with the Lake Narracan and the Morwell East Industrial Precincts, have not progressed.
"They all require investment in off-site infrastructure such as roads, sewerage and water, that involves various departments and agencies – which the Government seems incredibly ignorant of", Mr Northe said.
When the Latrobe Valley Authority was established, the Premier promised that local projects would be fast-tracked, and that the Government would break down regulatory barriers to growth. Despite this, large-scale local developments that would create thousands of jobs are currently sitting idle.
"I can’t work out why the Government won’t provide the necessary support to commence these projects. These developments have been approved following a rigorous process via State and Local Governments. These projects are ready to start, ready to employ thousands of local people, and yet they can’t get support to find the solutions to overcome the barriers to progress" Mr Northe said.
"I call on the Premier to deliver on his promise of fast-tracking Latrobe Valley projects. I also call on the Minister for Employment to break down these barriers to growth, and address our unemployment crisis", Mr Northe said.
Extract from Parliamentary Debates
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: support@gippsland.com
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