By Paul Millar
FORMER Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett believes that Geelong will rebound from massive job losses but families will endure some heavy heartache along the way.
“There’s no doubt it will cause a lot of stress and anxiety, not only to those that lose their employment but also to their families,” the chairman of Beyondblue told the Independent.
“I think people get understandably concerned and anxious because of a fear of the unknown.”
Australian Workers Union secretary Ben Davis agreed a fear for the future was beginning to affect workers about to lose their jobs but little was being done to help them.
“People at Alcoa are becoming increasingly concerned, I can see it in their eyes,” he said.
“I’ve lost count of the number of times I have been to Point Henry to talk with them over the past month.”
The union chief conceded that many of the 800 people about to lose their jobs at Alcoa realised they would never bring home such a significant pay packet again if they stayed in Geelong.
Mr Davis said some workers would retire and their younger counterparts needed options but others with five or six years left in the workforce would be at a loss.
Governments should start funding TAFE courses, perhaps on small business operations or helping trades workers to upgrade their qualifications, he said.
“When times get tough people expect the government to help.”
Mt Kennett said Geelong had weathered tough times, especially during the Pyramid Building Society collapse in 1990 and would pull through.
Geelong had progressed since Pyramid and was looking to the future under Mayor Darryn Lyons, he said.
“People will find work if they want to find work, maybe not in their field of their choice and some will go to part-time – people should not become down-hearted,” Mr Kennett said.
