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Speeches | June 26, 2017

Job losses continue under Daniel Andrews

The Nationals Member for Lowan, Emma Kealy MP says that this month’s unemployment figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics show the unemployment rate in regional Victoria increased 0.3% to 5.7%.

In North West Victoria the unemployment rate has risen 2.6% in just three months – from 5.2% in February to 7.8% in May 2017.

The number of unemployed people in North West Victoria has increased dramatically in just one year, jumping from 3,029 unemployed people in May 2016 to 5,976 unemployed people in May 2017.

“This dramatic rise sees 2,947 more people forced into unemployment over the last twelve months”, Ms Kealy said.

“Last week’s announcement of the imminent shutdown of the Hamilton Mineral Sands Separation Plant resulting in 120 job losses is an additional blow for the Lowan electorate, yet Labor still refuse to provide decent investment in this part of the state to grow jobs and the economy.

“It is clear that Daniel Andrews has no jobs planned for regional Victoria and all his energy is spent looking after Melbourne at the expense of regional Victoria.

“Daniel Andrews must look beyond Melbourne and make every effort to kick-start new employment opportunities to create jobs for the region.

“People living in the Lowan electorate are sick of being treated like second-class citizens by Daniel Andrews’ Labor Government.

“It's time for Daniel Andrews’ city-centric Labor Government to go so that Western Victoria can start to move forward and we can build a better future for our region,” she said.