By LUKE VOOGT
This year’s election result could be bad news for jobseekers in Geelong’s poorer suburbs, with the Federal Coalition yet to fund a local jobs program.
Labor made a $2m election commitment to the G21 Regional Opportunities to Work (GROW) program, which the Coalition failed to match.
G21 CEO Elaine Carbines was disappointed the program didn’t receive bipartisan support.
“Addressing disadvantage is everybody’s business and should be beyond politics,” she said.
“This will mean it will take us longer to achieve the goal of breaking that cycle of disadvantage in our most disadvantaged suburbs.”
Ms Carbines said G21 would instead work with Corangamite MP Sarah Henderson to secure other federal funding.
“Now we’ve got to work with opportunities that the coalition government is affording us,” she said.
“We do need her support to get a commitment out of the Turnbull government.”
In this year’s Budget, Ms Henderson said, the government announced a $96.1m Try, Test and Learn Fund to fund innovative policies to help people find jobs.
“I am extremely supportive of GROW and look forward to advocating very hard for Try, Test and Learn funding,” she said.
Ms Henderson said other government programs, such as its $20m Jobs and Infrastructure Fund for Geelong and Corangamite, offered further funding opportunities.
Ms Carbines said GROW targeted areas with highest unemployment in the G21 region, particularly Corio, Norlane Whittington and Colac.
The program encourages local companies to purchase supplies and services locally, and Ms Carbines said 25 companies had signed up so far.
“It’s a very innovative approach – we’re the only place in Australia that is doing it this way.”
“If we can just shift 7 per cent of the procurement practices in favour of local suppliers, by 2020 that would create 2500 jobs and contribute $1b to the G21 region.”
GROW has received $1m from the State Government, $300,000 from the Alcoa Foundation, and $2m from Give Where You Live.
Corio MP Richard Marles said GROW was a fantastic program.
“That’s why Labor supported it and the government needs to do the same,” he said.
Mr Marles said the government’s support of the program was a test of its commitment to Geelong – one it had so far failed.
“It shows how little they care about the Corio electorate.”
