The Liberal Government must step up its efforts to create jobs on the West Coast.

Disquiet is growing at Adam Brooks’ hands-off approach as chair of the West Coast Economic Working Group.

Labor Leader Bryan Green said beyond bringing forward some pre-election commitments, the Liberal Government had done little in response to the closure of the Mt Lyell and Henty mines.

“Talking to people on the ground in Queenstown and Strahan yesterday, it is clear that locals are becoming increasingly frustrated with the lack of urgency and leadership from Adam Brooks and the Liberal Government,” Mr Green said.

“Months ago Labor called for the $16 million Federal Government grant to Cadbury to be redirected to stimulate job creation and investment on the West Coast. This money remains unspent.

“The Government’s only plan appears to be sitting on its hands waiting for the Mt Lyell Mine to reopen.

“The people of the West Coast cannot wait for jobs – they are crying out for assistance now.

“While funding for walking tracks, mountain bike trails and road upgrades is welcome, Mr Brooks cannot even say how many mine workers have been employed on these projects.”

Mr Green said Labor had consulted with the West Coast community to put forward a range of initiatives which had been ignored by the Government including:

– Prioritising the roll-out of the NBN to the West Coast to create short term construction jobs and long term innovation.

– Establishing a whisky distillery in Queenstown.

– Supporting the construction of world class links golf course at Strahan.

– A public/private partnership to purchase a new sea plane to improve tourism access to Macquarie Harbour.

– Fast tracking development of the $200 million Granville Harbour wind farm.

The Government should also be looking at commercial opportunities to clean up the contamination of the Queen River, while also extracting copper through the process.

“The release of the West Coast Economic Working Group’s final report is shaping up to be a major test for Adam Brooks.

“It must be backed up with tangible actions and funding to create jobs.”
Bryan Green MP Labor Leader