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

[topsidesoul]

Wrong....needs to be sent North to regions that will gain votes.

Also manufacturing goes overseas because local companys would rather buy 'a small plastic part' from china to save money rather than keep the money in their own country and create jobs.

Go look for a bathroom cabinet and you will find this 'flat-pack' crap that is made in china, full of defects, the legs/handles/hinges are horrible quality. If you want locally made you have to pay in the 1000's for custom high end.

Consumers need to stop looking for cheap and be willing to shell out 20% for something that is better made and creates job. Government needs to think of a way to Help consumers afford to  buy Australian.

Go look for tiles or anything for your bathroom or kitchen that is made of stone....all now made in China and really cheap.

A local company that makes  'outdoor improvement products'  and the like, stopped getting parts from local businesses because they were struggling.....drove past their factory on the weekend to see the struggling owners and managers washing their European cars and boats with high pressure cleaners located in the carpark.

[silverfaun]

Dancing to the tune of the unions again. She knows which side of her bread is buttered.

[topsidesoul]

I bet she's wishing she was the one who did a deal with Rhinehart.

[*crikey*mate*]

Wrong....needs to be sent North to regions that will gain votes.

Also manufacturing goes overseas because local companys would rather buy 'a small plastic part' from china to save money rather than keep the money in their own country and create jobs.

generalization on your behalf - globalization means competitiveness and being able to supply a product at a price people are prepared to/ are able to pay.

I was researching for the purchase of a computer case last night and for the same case, the price varied between $104 and $389 - I'm sorry, but for $285, I'm not really fussed where it comes from

Go look for a bathroom cabinet and you will find this 'flat-pack' crap that is made in china, full of defects, the legs/handles/hinges are horrible quality. If you want locally made you have to pay in the 1000's for custom high end.

And how many people can afford that?

Consumers need to stop looking for cheap and be willing to shell out 20% for something that is better made and creates job. Government needs to think of a way to Help consumers afford to  buy Australian.

The gov can't even think of a way to make health care affordable for the majority of people and even less so for those with private insurance.... So what hope have we really got?

Jobs can be created for Australians without them neccessarily being based overseas - The gov is competing with rapid advances in technology and globalization - the only way to return to "the way we were" when the First Fleet sailed, is to close our doors and minds to the rest of the world, reduce our population so that we can be completely self sustainable.

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.

Go look for tiles or anything for your bathroom or kitchen that is made of stone....all now made in China and really cheap.

I'll shop around different stores here in Australia for the best price/value for money that I can find.... What's the difference? I saved something close to $1000 so far this year just in school and uni text and stationary supplies for my family - I don't apologize for economizing where I can - why should anyone else?

A local company that makes  'outdoor improvement products'  and the like, stopped getting parts from local businesses because they were struggling.....drove past their factory on the weekend to see the struggling owners and managers washing their European cars and boats with high pressure cleaners located in the carpark.

and why shouldn't people be allowed to do what is necessary to maximize their wealth? Should one person be denied the right to drive a BMW because his neighbour either can't or chooses not to?

[topsidesoul]

At the expense of others while saying they are  'struggling'?

Either say right out your in it for the money, don't make it look like your business is having trouble making ends meet.

It's an insult to people  and businesses who are actually struggling.

Why is it that people who own businesses and   are complaining how hard it is nowdays are the ones the best off?

Why do we read daily in the paper of businesses closing up because of  decisions made by the current Government of the day?

If you want to maximise your wealth by undercutting to the Chinese suppliers  you are part of the problem.

Standard of welfare?

generalization on your behalf now.

Are you serious? I shop around these people and they have no standards when it comes to affording what you or I take for granted.

Really, cutting welfare?

I bet you'd be the first person to complain if the same homeless people showed up at a park near you.

I have a 65 year old parent who was let go by their 'struggling' employer.

After being juggled around by network members and completeing multiple business/computer/book keeping  courses and living off a pittance,

Then there's being told 'your too old or not the person we are looking for' and finding the only job finders that help the elderly close ndown  because they get no funding.

 He was hired back by the same employer part time because said employer can't find skilled staff.

(Very  nice from an employer who screams at injured staff and tells them that 'those stitches you got coost our insurance $8,000 or  'you hurt yourself on purpose!')

A few hours a week.....whoop de doo...

Now this parent, after tax still has to look for employment, work part time and attend all meetings (telling an employer you can't come in because you have to answer to centerlink sits well) while after tax earns the same if they were unemployed.

Poverty traps while the government can list people as 'employed'.

[*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.

and yes, I know it's hard for older people to gain employment - I wish there was a solution for that - the only one I've come up with is to manoevre yourself into a large company and stay put till the forced retirement age - or, own your own business.

Could the person you speak of not set up a small business from home doing people's books etc or computer data entry? *shrugs* not sure just a thought...

I'm studying at uni ATM - and I chose my degrees with the thought in the back of my mind, that when I'm too old to work for anyone else, that I might be able to hang my shingle out the front door of my room at the retirement village LOL

[topsidesoul]

My point was you cannot over help people with money, while at the same time dump them and tell them 'good luck with that'.

There will always be idiots that do not favour hard manual labour (I enjoy the fresh air, though the prestige of an office would be great).

If someone from any Government chooses to paint everyone like that they are doing it for a reason that is ploitical. Not everyone is the same..

Data entry is slowly going overseas and what is able to be done here is done on contract through the government (who you know will get you a contract).

Book keeping from what I have looked into is now favoured by larger organised businesses that advertise not only multiple clients, but after hours online tech/account  help.

All the businesses I do work with go that option for the ease and they trust a larger businesses handling their valuables.

It's sad, all the letterbox delivery people I see are elderly earning peanuts and they look as if their gnna kneel over.

My recycle bin gets raided by an old lady  up the street (does not bother me) who looks like she is on her last legs.

If I come accross overly against those who are doing well financially..it is because I work everyday for these people and deal with the silly things they spend their fortunes on, while at the same time I live in a fairly low income area and see some people who are pretty bad off.

[*crikey*mate*]

At the expense of others while saying they are  'struggling'?

Either say right out your in it for the money, don't make it look like your business is having trouble making ends meet.

I'm pretty sure that most people go into business to make money - how much money a business makes is subject to many variables - but surely sourcing affordable services and supplies would be one of them. I'm pretty sure there is no legislation which dictates how much profit you are allowed to generate.

It's an insult to people  and businesses who are actually struggling.

He may well have been stuggling which is why he needed to find alternate sources for supply and services. Maybe he wanted to earn more money for the amount of work he put in.

Why is it that people who rown businesses and   are complaining how hard it is nowdays are the ones the best off?

Are they? I know many a small business owner whose employees often take home a larger wage than themselves... Plenty of business' go bankrupt or close their doors - from memory the figure is something like 90% within the first 12 months.

Why do we read daily in the paper of businesses closing up because of  decisions made by the current Government of the day?

If you want to maximise your wealth by undercutting to the Chinese suppliers  you are part of the problem.

Sometimes it's what you have to do to survive yourself - if you can't supply a product at a price that people are prepared to pay, then you won't be in business for very long.

Standard of welfare?

generalization on your behalf now.

Are you serious? I shop around these people and they have no standards when it comes to affording what you or I take for granted.

I think you missed this bit

"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."

Really, cutting welfare?

I bet you'd be the first person to complain if the same homeless people showed up at a park near you.

From what I understand, it is not the majority of homeless that receive welfare - as far as society and "the system" is concerned, they are anonymous beings. I thought to receive welfare, you had to have proof of residency - tell me - does a park bench fulfill that criteria?

I have a 65 year old parent who was let go by their 'struggling' employer.

After being juggled around by network members and completeing multiple business/computer/book keeping  courses and living off a pittance,

Then there's being told 'your too old or not the person we are looking for' and finding the only job finders that help the elderly close ndown  because they get no funding.

 He was hired back by the same employer part time because said employer can't find skilled staff.

(Very  nice from an employer who screams at injured staff and tells them that 'those stitches you got coost our insurance $8,000 or  'you hurt yourself on purpose!')

A few hours a week.....whoop de doo...

Now this parent, after tax still has to look for employment, work part time and attend all meetings (telling an employer you can't come in because you have to answer to centerlink sits well) while after tax earns the same if they were unemployed.

Poverty traps while the government can list people as 'employed'.

[izabsmiling]

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 quite involved for the kid and the parent and for a reason I suppose...to make sure that only those who are eligible get the money...so that the parents who earn enough to fully support there dependents do so

http://guidesacts.fahcsia.gov.au/guides_acts/ssg/ssguide-1/ssguide-1.1/ssguide-1.1.d/ssguide-1.1.d.70.html

1.1.D.70 Dependent child

Child 16 years or older

A young person who has turned 16 but is under 22 can still be a dependent child of the recipient if:

they are wholly or substantially dependent on the recipient,

AND

the child's income in the financial year will not exceed the personal income limit,

AND

they are receiving full-time education at a school, college or university.