Federal Stimulus Package and Jobs

The Hon. EDDIE OBEID: My question is addressed to the Treasurer. What action is the Government taking to assist employment in New South Wales?

The Hon. ERIC ROOZENDAAL: I thank the honourable member for his question and his interest in this matter. This Government is acting decisively to provide training and job opportunities to help the most vulnerable weather the global economic downturn. That is why the Government announced a $370 million investment last month to create a total of 6,000 new jobs for young people by 2013. This investment means that an extra 4,000 New South Wales Government apprentices will be employed over the next four years and 500 new cadetships a year will also be created over the same period. We are giving young people a chance to learn valuable skills and help our State fight its way through these tough economic times. By providing these much-needed jobs and training places the Government is providing career opportunities for many young people. These are young people who will be trained to help deliver critical infrastructure projects vital to the New South Wales economy.

The Government has also introduced a range of policy initiatives that will complement the Federal Government's stimulus package. These initiatives will boost the economy and create and support jobs in New South Wales. Last month the Premier announced details of a new $620 million national partnership to massively boost the number of training places in New South Wales. The New South Wales Government is contributing $200 million as part of this training places boost. With the Commonwealth contribution, this will increase the number of training places by 12 per cent over the next four years. The National Partnership for Productivity Places Program will fund an additional 175,000 training places for job seekers, school leavers and under-skilled workers, helping to build up a skilled workforce in New South Wales. We are targeting the workers we need most—electricians, toolmakers, welders, sheet metal workers, panelbeaters, childcare workers, and carpenters. We will do everything in our power to ease the distress caused by job loss.

Those who are eligible for the Newstart Allowance have entitlements to various concessions for public transport fares and TAFE fees. I am advised that for those who are having difficulties paying fines, Government fees or charges, provisions have been put in place to allow them to stagger or defer their payments. The Government will also continue to work on new initiatives that will continue to help businesses. That is why the recent Jobs Summit focused on how we can best support industry in the face of the global financial crisis. Priority actions were developed not only to protect jobs in New South Wales, but also to create them. These actions will be based on whole-of-government responses that will see New South Wales Government agencies working together to deliver solutions.

The Jobs Summit looked at opportunities for eliminating red tape and attracting investment to New South Wales. We also identified priority areas for training, including areas of growth and job losses. This will help ensure that the 175,000 training places under the Commonwealth's Productivity Places Program are targeted to areas with the most potential for jobs growth or those most in need of support. Ideas will continue to be canvassed from businesses and stakeholders around New South Wales. This Government understands the very real difficulties working families are facing around New South Wales, in particular those who have suffered from job losses. We will do everything in our power to continue to support jobs in New South Wales and work closely with the Federal Government in implementing the Federal stimulus package.