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Unemployment Continues to Rise in Latrobe ValleyUnemployment rate in the Latrobe Valley has increased by 2% in just 15 months. Is this something you should worry about? Learn more. By news@gippsland - 28th June 2016 - Back to News Member for Morwell Russell Northe this week in Parliament raised concerns about rising unemployment figures in the Latrobe Valley under the Andrews Labor Government.
Mr Northe said the unemployment rate for the Latrobe region continues to be an ongoing concern for our community.
"The small area labour market figures released last week paint a very disturbing picture," Mr Northe said.
"For example the figures for Latrobe City show that in December 2014 the unemployment rate was 7.3%.
"Under the Andrews Government we now see the March 2016 unemployment rate sitting at 9.3%. So in the short space of 15 months the unemployment rate in Latrobe has increased by 2%!
"We know that ABS figures have shown a loss of approximately 12,000 full time jobs in the Latrobe/Gippsland region since Labor has come to office."
Mr Northe said in the last 18 months we have seen this Government scrap the Regional Growth Fund and abolish important economic and community programs such as the "Latrobe Valley Industry and Infrastructure Fund (LVIIF)", "Putting Locals First" and "Skilling the Valley".
"The recent unemployment figures prove Labor’s decision to cut these successful job creating programs was absurd," Mr Northe said.
"LVIIF supported more than 40 businesses and leveraged close to $100 million in investment, creating 1200 jobs in our community."
Mr Northe said before the election Daniel Andrews promised to create 100,000 full-time jobs within two years as part of his Back to Work scheme.
"Since the Andrews Labor Government came to office we have seen sharp falls in full-time employment in our region.
"In addition to this Daniel Andrews has also just imposed millions of dollars of costs to some of our region’s largest employers through his "electricity tax" which will have a direct and indirect impact upon local businesses and jobs.
"We also have no idea how many local jobs will be lost given the recent Renewable Energy Target (RET) announcement by this Government," he said.
"Unfortunately for 18 months there has been a vacuum of local economic development programs and whilst the Government may point to its recently announced "transition package" there is still scant detail on what this will entail and how it will help address rising unemployment."
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: news@gippsland.com
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