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business | March 01, 2022

Thousands of jobs lost to South Australia as Labor drops the ball

The Labor Government’s unwillingness to support Horsham-based food manufacturer Australian Plant Proteins to expand its local operations has seen thousands of local jobs lost to South Australia.

South Australian Premier Steven Marshall is today celebrating his state securing a massive investment in food manufacturing, with APP to set up a commercial-scale pulse protein extraction facility in the state.

The expansion will see South Australia become home to the largest pulse protein ingredient manufacturing capability in Australia, with 1345 construction jobs and 384 new direct manufacturing jobs.

In the long-term, more than 8500 new full-time positions will be created in the supply chain.

The Nationals Member for Lowan Emma Kealy has slammed the Andrews Government for ignoring warnings that its lack of support was risking Horsham losing the investment altogether.

“This project was borne out of research undertaken at Horsham’s Grains Innovation Park and was piloted in the region,” Ms Kealy said.

“The Wimmera Development Association pushed hard for it and commercialised it, and made it a reality through Australian Plant Proteins.

“It is a Horsham project through and through.

“During the COVID pandemic, the Victorian Premier arrogantly questioned why anyone would want to go to South Australia.

“Well Mr Andrews, in this case you gave an incredible business no choice because you and your government failed to back them, despite being given every opportunity to do so.”

Ms Kealy said the loss of the project to South Australia due to Labor’s lack of support was a huge blow to both Horsham and Victoria as a whole.

“Losing local jobs and investment to South Australia is no way to support regional communities and our economy to recover and rebuild,” she said.

“We need to take up every opportunity to create new careers and revive manufacturing here in Victoria, which is why the Liberals and Nationals in government will create a $2.5 billion Bringing Manufacturing Home fund.

“Boosting the volume of locally-manufactured products is part of the Liberals and Nationals’ positive plan to recover and rebuild and secure our state against future shocks to the global supply chain.”