By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
THE State Government has perpetrated a “cruel hoax” on Geelong’s unemployed with its Back to Work scheme, according to Liberal MP Andrew Katos.
The scheme had failed miserably in Geelong, the South Barwon MP said.
“Before the last State election Labor promised Victorians a $100 million Back to Work plan that would create 100,000 jobs. Figures show that this plan has only created 164 jobs,” Mr Katos said.
“In the Geelong region only 10 jobs have been created with not one job being created in the Bellarine electorate.
“In the South Barwon electorate only one job has been created and even this is not certain, as the postcode of 3216 also includes parts of the Geelong electorate.
Premier Daniel Andrews pitched Back to Work and Labor’s abandoned Bay West container port plan as “a jobs saviour to the people of Geelong”, Mr Katos said.
“With only 10 jobs being created by Back to Work and Bay West being ditched, Daniel Andrews has been exposed perpetrating a cruel hoax on Geelong workers and unemployed. To compound matters, money budgeted for TAFE is now being redirected into this dud scheme.
“Daniel Andrews told us we had a TAFE crisis, so why is his Government taking money away TAFE to fund a dud scheme?”
Geelong Labor MP Christine Couzens hit back, accusing Mr Katos of hypocrisy.
“The Liberals were in government for four years and haemorrhaged jobs out of Geelong,“ she said.
“We need to give this thing a fair go. It has only been operating a few months – we’re still in the first year and it’s early days yet.
“There are a number of big-ticket items just starting to kick off now and we’ll see benefits in the coming year.
“It’s not going to happen overnight.”
Ms Couzens said the redevelopment of the Geelong Performing Arts Centre, the next stage of Simonds Stadium and a new rail maintenance building at Waurn Ponds would create local jobs.
“WorkSafe is being relocated to Geelong, with a new building to be constructed, and Barwon Water has begun its head office redevelopment, so there are a lot of commitments about to kick off. These are constructions jobs and will have a flow-on effect once they are completed.”
