The Liberal Government is taking immediate action to support workers, their families and the West Coast community in the wake of the closure of the Mt Lyell mine.
This morning the West Coast Economic Working Group held a very productive first meeting. Everyone in the group understands the importance of getting moving straight away.
There are potential projects and opportunities which have been identified that we will be working hard to help progress ahead of our next meeting.
At today’s meeting we also identified the first community member who has been invited to join the group to bring important local insight and provide a direct link to the community. Queenstown pharmacist Chris Walpole has accepted the offer to join the group and he will bring an extraordinary amount of local community knowledge and business experience.
The Working Group will contain representatives from the West Coast Council, Copper Mines of Tasmania, the AWU, the Department of State Growth and, most importantly, members of the West Coast community.
The group is about gathering and facilitating ideas, suggestions and opportunities from the community to assist the short, medium and long term requirements of the West Coast. The State Government will play a key role to assist in actioning these opportunities into reality in partnership with local and federal agencies and the community. It’s not about having a group of politicians sitting around a table and lecturing the community on what they need to do.
An email address, [email protected], has been set up so members of the community can provide suggestions or ideas to the Working Group.
The key focus is on supporting workers, families and the broader community affected by the closure.
To that end there are a number of support services being organised for mine workers and their families:
• Anyone needing information and support can call the West Coast Support phone line 1800 728 583.
• Financial planners, Centrelink and counsellors will be at the West Coast Council Chambers on July 22 & 23 to provide free advice for affected employees and families.
• Affected CMT employees can contact Aurora on 1300 132 003 and ask for the Hardship Team if they require any assistance paying power bills.
There is a very clear commitment to work together, roll up our sleeves and get on with it.
Adam Brooks, Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business and Trade Liberal Member for Braddon
