Gippsland › Latest news › Russel Northe MLA

Northe calls on Government to provide jobs for Latrobe Valley community

Member for Morwell Russell Northe today joined with Shadow Minister for Small and Medium Enterprises, Neale Burgess to call on the Andrews Labor Government to provide real jobs for people in the Latrobe Valley.

By Portal Admin - 15th May 2017 - Back to News

Mr Northe said that a number of local businesses had closed their doors in recent months and it seems Daniel Andrews and his Government are oblivious to this happening.

"The retention of jobs in our community is absolutely critical yet all we hear are hollow words from the Premier," Mr Northe said.

"We have had businesses such as BOC Gases and Alternate Dwellings close their doors in recent months, whilst Johnson Health Tech is soon to relocate out of the Valley with further job losses.

"Now the Latrobe Valley Hotel in Morwell is also closing which is a bitter blow for those workers and our community more generally," he said.

"If Daniel Andrews thinks the consequences of imposing an extra $252 million of taxes upon some of the Latrobe Valleys largest employers will be negligent, then he has rocks in his head."

Mr Northe said there were a number of developments across the Latrobe Valley that could be progressed; however in some cases support from the Government is needed.

"One example is the Lake Narracan Precinct project which would bring hundreds of jobs to the region in a short space of time but unfortunately this sits idle, despite assurances from Daniel Andrews that local developments would be fast tracked," Mr Northe said.

Mr Northe said the Latrobe region had one of the highest unemployment rates of all Victorian municipalities.

"In the short space of just two years under the Andrews Government, unemployment has risen in Latrobe City from 7.3 per cent to 11.2 per cent, an increase of more than 50 per cent," Mr Northe said.

"1,352 more local people have joined the unemployment queue since December 2014, verifying that the Andrews Government is more focused on its own issues than supporting Latrobe Valley residents."

Shadow Minister for Small and Medium Enterprises Neale Burgess said it was outrageous the Andrews Government refused to stand up for the Latrobe Valley and secure local jobs.

"Daniel Andrews promised he would fight for every job in the Latrobe Valley, but the only job he is fighting for is his own," Mr Burgess said.

"Daniel Andrews has broken his promise to secure jobs in the Latrobe Valley."

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Source: www.gippsland.com

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