Julia Gillard unveils $1 billion jobs creation plan

[not_an_eloi]

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has made a pitch to blue-collar workers, unveiling details of the Government's new $1 billion jobs package.

The legislation is designed to improve the benefits Australian companies see from large-scale projects undertaken in the country. Ms Gillard says concerns have been raised that major projects undertaken by multi-nationals tend to lean towards using international suppliers and importing material and equipment.

Under the plan, large companies will be required by law to give local firms the opportunity to bid for contracts before they are sent offshore. "When there are projects worth more than $500 million, they will need to have an Australian industry participation plan," Ms Gillard told a press conference in Melbourne. "They will need to look to how they can involve Australian businesses and create Australian jobs in what they do." Ms Gillard says the plan is designed to keep the local manufacturing industry competitive despite the high Australian dollar and other economic pressures. "I believe that modern Australia can have a great blue-collar future," she said. "We can continue to be a manufacturing nation, we can be a nation in which people make their living through blue-collar jobs that aren't intermittent or insecure or low paid, blue-collar jobs that are highly skilled and highly paid. "But we aren't going to get there by accident. We have to make sure that we shape that future."

A series of new manufacturing precincts will also be established to develop new products and skills to break into new markets. Industry and Innovation Minister Greg Combet says the precincts are a key part of the plan. "A lot of our research effort in Australia is pure research and a lot of great research has been done," he said. "But we don't perform well by international comparisons in commercialising the research effort that we make in this country. "And I think one solution to that is to get industry far more active in directing the research effort we have." The Government predicts the plan will inject $1.6 billion into the economy. Ms Gillard says the plan will be funded by removing a tax concession for big businesses. "Bigger businesses currently benefiting for a special research and development tax advantage will be forgoing that advantage," she said. The national secretary of the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union, Paul Bastian, says the jobs package largely reflects what it has been campaigning for. "We're now going to have in legislation that any project worth more than $500 million in this country will be required to have an Australian industry participation plan to show how those projects are giving our manufacturers the opportunity to bid on a fair and reasonable basis for work," he said. "That is a big tick for us."

followed by the usual negative fud from liberal's mirabella

[cherry*135]

Both my kids got YA when they left school. The category they got it under doesn't exist now. They had to work for at least 18mths after leaving school and earn 75% of the average weekly wage. (about $18 000) before they could apply. No parental means/income test. Can live at home.

Both worked part-time and got YA (depending on their weekly earnings) and studied full time at Uni ( 1 is still doing this). They also had it paid to them for 13 weeks when they were overseas on international student exchange.

[*crikey*mate*]

I actually think I agree with what you are saying - I believe that the gov creates a cycle where people are dependent on them.

One of my kids recently went into Centrelink to apply for Youth Allowance? (I think that's what it was) CRIKEY! The stuff they wanted to know - (which I suppose is a good thing) - just reeked of a way for them to get control of our lives and get us into a cycle of welfare dependence - I told him to run for the hills and generate his own money another way.

 It is there to help people who need it a bit of help .If you,your family and/or your son don't need it .Then you don't need to feel controlled by it or be dependent on it.

obviously the people who hand it over to the kid for pocket money don't really need it, eh? and $200 pocket money?? seriously?? As I said - a kid's employability is limited only by their imagination and their willingness to work -

I don't understand the mentality of getting them on the welfare dependence trail at 16 and allowing them to learn that they are entitled to something for nothing - or worse to learn to expect it.

Technically, uni costs nothing if you choose to HECS it and defer payment until after the degree when you are earning a reasonable wage. With a bit of effort, you don't even need to buy the text books cos they're all available on hold in the library - so apart from a pen and notepad - what else does a kid need to complete their education if they are still living at home has dependents?

My apologies - but if a kid wants to buy beer and socialize, then in my opinion, they need to be earning that money themselves - not taking a handout from welfare....

[izabsmiling]

Crikey Mate ,

The link above shows how much is considered and affects payment or likelihood of payment should you or anyone else need help supporting your dependents.So much info needs to be given (and by the parents as well. if the applicant is a dependant )so that rate of payment can be calculated.

I don't totally disagree though you raise some interesting points as far as job creation.Children getting jobs can be a beneficial thing as long as it complies with child labor laws etc and taxation etc etc.Though with many as you have said elsewhere wanting more for less and older Australians and others wanting work would those kids  (dependents of their parents )  getting pocket money for wants and the employer cheap labor at the expense of others who may need it for their bread and butter ?Are they taking jobs that others need to support themselves ?

The key to creating jobs is to minimize welfare to all those who don't need it (ie ill and disabled) and then people will be forced to find/create employment - for too long, Australia has bred a culture where you really don't have to exert any effort to survive if you don't particularly mind the standard of living that welfare affords.

There's work out there - some people are just too fussy to take what's available and others may not have the skills to undertake certain jobs - so another key is skill development, training and education.

Should one person be denied the right to drive a BMW because his neighbour either can't or chooses not to?

Why would you think that ? It's easy to understand though that those on lower incomes may have trouble getting their 'needs' though isn't it ?

If the neighbour with the BMW had holidays every year and all the extra wants and then complained they had to wait for their child to have an op at a public hospital they are the ones who look like they have their priorities wrong and want to get what they 'need' for nothing while having what they want.

You have said that kids cost far more as they get older...I can't see why or how they get cheaper If they go to Uni ? 

[the_hawk*]

A bit late when there is no one left here to manufacture anything

[topsidesoul]

Have to disagree with you there. The process is demeaning, they want to know everything. Those who need it order to feed/house/educate their children can feel demeaned by it. Those who hand it over to their kids as pocket money don't care. Think they're owed.

Yep, if you apply for a pension or old age one. They want to know the costs of everything you own.

Furniture/whitegoods/car etc etc.

My family member costed everything they got through donations as around $100.

They never have enough to walk into a store and buy anything for their house new, being asked to price the 20 year old matress they sleep on is demeaning.

[izabsmiling]

I agree with you Nevyn and Soul, Perhaps those that see it all as people simply wanting something for nothing ...don't get it and actually add to how demeaning it all is for those in need ?

[topsidesoul]

On a brighter not, people will now have to work past 65.

Yes, I can picture people dying at work (I've had an older gentlemen die of a heart attack at my work) because they will have to work into their 70's if they are not self funded for retirement.

Unfortunately for the first lot, these people lived in a time when 'self funded retirement' was not even thought of.

Meanwhile our pollies and ex pollies can enjoy 

-a job in the private sector through liks with their government job

-the funds they were able to afford for retirement through large amounts of  self voted pay rises being their 'nest egg'

- extras for being ex ministers payed for by tax payers.

Then turn around and tell people to work till they die...

[topsidesoul]

I agree with you Nevyn and Soul, Perhaps those that see it all as people simply wanting something for nothing ...don't get it and actually add to how demeaning it all is for those in need ?

The probably deal with people who do not deserve it.

But I'm guessing there is pressure from above to limit the amount people aplying for it.

The best way to do that is to make it difficult (demeaning/invasive/confronting)

The offices of centerlink seem to be horribly run.

Everything is now geared towards not entering the office and instead via the web (great if you can afford a computer) and dealings done via call staff.

Call staff do not have an email or contact details as wellas having no responsibility if they enter incorrect information.

Again, said family member  I speak of had their dead spouses house address entered as their address (they already filled out the paperwork with their correct address) even though it was 10 years ago and they never lived  at deceased spouses address.

They were contacted on the anniversaryof their spouses death and told they had 'lied' about living at said address.

Person who phoned them would only give a first name.

When I rang up myself to complain about harrassmant I gave the operators name to be told 'we have quite a few people with that name'.

I asked to speak to someone higher and told and all they could give was an email  address.

Makes me wonder why centerlink staff get regularly threatened and abused because I was angry at what happened, especially the timing being the 10th year of their spouses death.

[izabsmiling]

That's terrible Soul 

[silverfaun]

AS usual with Gillard just another announcement, much like her fixing of the mining tax (that went well for her) No follow through, no consultation with businesses, just a fop to her puppet masters the unions.

This is typical of this PM, make the big announcement, make businesses pay for it, watch this one die on the vine like all her other empty promises.

She won't be around to implement it, she knows this, this is purely a cynical "announcement" in election year.

BIG business says a $1 billion cut to research and development tax concessions for up to 20 of the nation's largest companies in Julia Gillard's jobs plan risks undermining confidence and will add to international concerns about the stability and predictability of our tax arrangements.

While the Prime Minister's $1bn strategy to boost innovation and the manufacturing sector won the backing of blue-collar unions, it incensed some major companies, which argued that the plan to require "Australian industry opportunity officers" on projects worth more than $2bn would have public servants embedded in major companies to monitor their purchasing.