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

[freakiness]

Crikey, have you ever lived in an area that has had 100s of recent redundancies and been looking for a job?

[sprinklespowerpuff]

Crikey, have you ever lived in an area that has had 100s of recent redundancies and been looking for a job?

Obviously not and there are a lot of areas like this. It's certainly not a "given" either that people can re-locate - just like that - another off-hand comment. A family member may be disabled and/or needs to be close to a hospital/their specialist, people with kiddies who have special needs and have to attend a school which can cater for them. Elderly parents living nearby needing help. The list goes on and on.

[izabsmiling]

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/national/jobless-numbers-set-to-rise-in-the-months-ahead/story-fncvk70o-1226555339653

Jobless numbers set to rise as companies cut costs

THE number of unemployed will soar by almost 10 per cent with around 60,000 extra people joining the ranks of the jobless over the next six months as companies slash costs and lay-off staff.

Union leaders yesterday said this is a "make or break" year for Australian workers with concerns growing that thousands of construction sector may lose their job as building industry stalls.

This bleak outlook comes as Boral, Bluescope and Vodafone announce lay-offs as they struggle to remain competitive against an uncertain global backdrop.

And there is growing speculation that some of the country's blue chip companies are also looking at redundancies later in the year.

The official unemployment rate for December - to be released today is tipped to jump from 5.2 per cent to 5.4 per cent.

But ANZ head of Australian economics Justin Fabo expects things will get worse before they start to get better with the unemployment rate tipped to peak at 5.75 per cent around mid-year.

This would result in the number of unemployed people jumping from its current level of 637,000 to almost 700,000 jobless - a rise of almost 10 per cent.

"In the near-term things don't look good with job ads falling for the 10th consecutive month," he said.

But Mr Fabo is upbeat the economy will begin to turn the corner by late 2013.

Experts said the increase in the unemployment rate is a result of two factors - job lay-offs and the inability of companies to create jobs to keep pace with population growth.

The bright side of the surge in unemployment is that it may push official interest rates from their current 3 per cent level to a record low of 2 per cent, according to the ANZ forecasts.

This would lower repayments on the average $300,000 mortgage by around $200 a month.

The workers facing the most pressure continue to be in sectors that are being smashed by the strong Australian dollar - manufacturing and retail - and also the public sector with state and federal governments trimming their budgets.

The Australian Workers Union Victorian boss Cesar Melhem yesterday warned up to "10,000 jobs potentially in the construction and construction related industry" are in jeopardy as growth stalls.

Acting Employment Minister Kate Ellis yesterday said the Commonwealth is ready to support workers and their families affected by the 700 job cuts made by Boral.

"Our first thoughts are with affected workers and their families who will be feeling very anxious and uncertain at this time," Ms Ellis said.

"The Government stands ready to provide support to assist affected workers."

[izabsmiling]

AUSTRALIA UNEMPLOYMENT RATE

Unemployment Rate in Australia remained unchanged at 5.40 percent in January of 2013 from 5.40 percent in December of 2012. Unemployment Rate in Australia is reported by the Australian Bureau of Statistic. Historically, from 1978 until 2013, Australia Unemployment Rate averaged 6.97 Percent reaching an all time high of 10.90 Percent in December of 1992 and a record low of 4 Percent in February of 2008. In Australia, the unemployment rate measures the number of people actively looking for a job as a percentage of the labour force. 

[*crikey*mate*]

Crikey, have you ever lived in an area that has had 100s of recent redundancies and been looking for a job?

No, but if that happened, I guess I would have to move to a location where I could get work. It's not ideal - but it's an option and it's a solution.

or if my occupation became completely redundant/obsolete - I'd make real sure that whilst I was unemployed I was doing something about getting the skills in an industry where there was plenty of work.

Even if it's a short term fix - you move to a city and work as a dish cleaner or a waiter etc

If there are no jobs around, then why are there hundreds of job vacancies in all the papers?

It's not the shortage of jobs that is the problem, it is the people without the relevant skills to fill the ones that are available, or people's reluctance to take a job that they feel is too demeaning for them or below their perceived worth - IN MOST CASES.

and if worse comes to worse, I hear that there are plenty of people turning over a reasonable income as an eBay seller - you don't even have to leave your home to do that except to go to the post office.

and whatever happened to the Avon Lady? don't think I've seen one of those since my grandma died..

and about 10 years ago Australia's top Tupperware seller was a MAN.

[*crikey*mate*]

Obviously not and there are a lot of areas like this. It's certainly not a "given" either that people can re-locate - just like that - another off-hand comment. A family member may be disabled and/or needs to be close to a hospital/their specialist, people with kiddies who have special needs and have to attend a school which can cater for them. Elderly parents living nearby needing help. The list goes on and on.

I can tick a lot of those boxes - the exception is my 90 year old father is still independent - but if need be, he's welcome in my home anyday if that's the best solution I can come up with - cos I'm 100% positive that he would be mortified if he thought he was preventing me from getting a job and helping my family to get back on their feet.

show me a city that doesn't have access to any of these?

yes - always plenty of excuses to stand in the way. It all depends how badly you want something I supposev- but there is always a solution - it might not be ideal - but one always exists.

[nevynreally]

I agree with Crikey. Unless you're being precious there are jobs out there. So you work the crappy hours/job until you can find something else. I've never been out of work involuntarily for more than three months at a time, and I've lived in small town as well as suburbs.

[catsnknots]

10.4% unemployment rate here where I live... and that was before the floods... 

that "low" unemployment rate the rest of the country is hiding some very hard times in some areas... 

I was 6 months away from moving before i got my job... times were hard and jobs were even harder to find. I retrained and persisted... but I do agree that if there are not jobs where you are then you must consider moving... 

[sprinklespowerpuff]

Re the Avon lady - my daughter aged 26 is an Avon rep. Most of her customers are age pensioners who don't have/can't use the internet or drive. She makes very little from them as can be expected if one is on a pension. She is lucky if they order a few dollars worth of product. Only a couple of her younger, working customers may on occasion order round $50 worth. Certainly couldn't live on it. Waiter, kitchen-hand etc - those jobs in the main go to young people. I know as I worked in restaurants for a time. Being a seller on Ebay is no walk in the park with the huge number of non-payers. Just read the Discussion Board. Plus you need plenty of guts to be an Ebay seller - lots and lots of carp to put up with. All in all, isn't as easy to get a job as some might think let alone make any decent moolah from it. Also most employers don't want to train anyone so how does a person gain experience if that is the case.

[nevynreally]

Supermarkets will hire older people and those without experience, so will the department stores.  As far as making decent moolah, anything's better than nothing and usually if you prove yourself useful, more comes your way.