Note: Where available, the PDF/Word icon below is provided to view the complete and fully formatted document
Crean launches jobs challenge: 3000 jobs for Hunter
Download PDF c 1:27/9.1
MEDIA RELEASE M inister tor Emp loyment , Education and Training
_6 October 1994 Ember -go until 5 .00 pm
C RE AN L-\Ll\'CHES JOBS CHALLENGE -3000 JOBS FOR H li:\TER
Federal Employment, Education and Training Minister, Simon Crean. today launched a
campaign to generate 3000 new jobs in the Hunter region by Christmas.
Speaking at a function orgam sed by the New South W ales Chamber of Commerce and
C hamber of Manufactures. Mr Crean said that the campaign aims to encourage
employers to take on additional employees. panicularly the long term unemployed.
"The Hunter campaign will see CES staff knocking on the doors of local employers to
let them know about the range of incentive s and initiatives which could assist them in
caking on staff.
''The Federal Government has committed some S22.7 million this financial year to the
Hunter region for programs to provide unemployed people with work and training
opponunities, including the option of starting their own businesses."
The Federal Government has commined $10.3 billion over the next four years in its
White Paper on Employment. 'Working Nation'. Long term unemployed people will be
given the assistance they need to become job ready, employers will be able to access
substantial initiative s and incentives to take on staff and train them.
"We have suspended the Training Guarantee Levy and introduced the National Training
Wage Award. We have also opened the doors to competition in the case mana gement of
unemployed people so they will get the specialised anention they need to become job
ready," Mr Crean said.
"Over 30 per cent of the funding in Working Nation will go directly to employers in the
form of subsidies-that is $3.17 billion in their pockets to help them take on staff. "
O utlining the subsidy rates. Mr Crean said they would increase the longer the person
has been disadvantaged. If a person had been unemployed for three years. emp loyers
prepared to take that person on could receive a training wage subsidy of up to S260 a
week for a total of 13 weeks and then $130 a week for the next 26 weeks -a total
~ u bsidy of almost $7000 paid to the employer. A $500 bonus is also payable if the
::mployer keeps the person on after 12 momhs.
1l1ere is
: ~e total subsidy up to £8260." he S;.tid.
Initiatives to help employers take on additional staff include:
training subsidies . \vhich comb ined with the training wage. dramatically reduce the
cost of taking on employees:
expanded funding for apprentice ships and traineeships ;
" fast track approval of traineeships through the establishment of the National
Employment and Training Task Force (N ETTFORCE ). It will also encourage
em ployers to provide training and employment places: and
local business and industry will also have more input into the strategic use of
Government programs and services provided through the CES for the economic
benefit of the region through the establishment of 60 Area Consultative Committees
across the country.
\1r Crean said employers could expect a knock on their door soon and urged them to
take advantage of the generous subsidies available to significantly reduce unemployment
in the region.
People wanting more information on Working Nation ir :natives and Government
programs should contact the Employer Service Centre at the Newcastle CES .
Contacts: Jane McAloon (travelling with Mr Crean) (018) 630 635.
Ian Paterson Mr Crean's Office (06'; 277 7460
