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Melbourne vaccine hub a missed opportunity for Latrobe Valley jobs

Government overlooking the chance of creating jobs for the locals.

By news@gippsland - 22nd April 2021 - Back to News

The Melbourne Labor Government has missed another chance to revitalise the Latrobe Valley’s jobs market and to create new local opportunities for a highly-skilled workforce. Today’s announcement that the State will invest $50 million to establish vaccine manufacturing in Melbourne is a disappointing loss for regional Victoria.

Government must pave the way to restoring Victoria’s reputation as a manufacturing powerhouse, particularly in industries of national importance like PPE manufacture, medical research and pharmaceuticals

The Victorian Government claims the decision to locate the facility in Melbourne is supported by "partnerships with our world-class Victorian universities, leading researchers, and Australian and international manufacturing companies". Why were regions, like the Latrobe Valley which is home to leading Victorian universities and has a long history in manufacturing – all on Melbourne’s doorstep – overlooked?

Overlooked opportunities for jobs and investments

Since Daniel Andrews was elected, Labor’s policy agenda has gutted key industries that have employed people in the Valley for generations and that built the region’s reputation as a world-class innovation hub.

Despite promising to stem the exodus of local jobs and business investment, the Andrews Government constantly overlooks obvious opportunities to stimulate the workforce with new, secure, long-term jobs and business investment.

Create more jobs across Victoria

The Liberal Nationals believe government must pave the way to restoring Victoria’s reputation as a manufacturing powerhouse, particularly in industries of national importance like PPE manufacture, medical research and pharmaceuticals. It’s why we announced a plan for a billion-dollar Bringing Manufacturing Home Fund that’ll help create more jobs right across Victoria, including the Latrobe Valley.

The early closure of Yallourn Power Station – which employs about 500 people and supports thousands of indirect jobs in the Valley – will create further economic pain in a region still reeling from the closure of Hazelwood Power Station and Labor’s plan to close the native timber industry.

Daniel Andrews likes to talk about a "transition" for the Valley, but so far all he’s done is butcher local job-creating industries with no plan to stem the destruction Labor’s political agenda is causing.

Pictures from Peter Walsh for Murray Plains Facebook page.

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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