By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
Geelong needs an employment program targeted at retrenched workers, according to Labor’s candidate for the federal seat of Corangamite.
“It was valuable to hear and meet the former Alcoa workers and hear about their challenges and experiences in re-skilling and trying to find employment,” Libby Coker said.
“It’s obviously been very challenging for them, because of their age and skill level, to find rewarding work. There needs to be more done to work with them and to support them.”
Ms Coker said existing employment funds should acknowledge that some workers needed work other than the smart jobs being created.
“It’s difficult but we can’t just forget about them. We should say to employers and the wider community that older workers bring with them reliability, responsibility, wisdom and life skills.”
Federal Industry Minister Christopher Pyne and state counterpart Lily D’Ambrosio last week announced $11.2 million in grants to Geelong businesses from a Geelong Region Innovation and Investment Fund (GRIIF).
The grants would create 145 jobs and boost investment by $44 million, Mr Pyne said.
“The Geelong region has faced more than its share of challenges but its ability to innovate, create new products and demonstrate its capabilities to the world is evident in the grants we announce today,” Mr Pyne said.
Recipients included Jeff Sykes and Associates, Air-Radiators, Caronlab, The Edge Glass and MC Herd.
State and federal governments and Ford Australia established the $25.9 million fund in response to Ford’s announcement it would cease local production in 2016. The fund expanded with $5 million from Alcoa Australia in 2014 after it announced the closure of its Port Henry aluminium smelter.
