The Tasmanian Greens today called on the Economic Development Minister ensure protocols are in place, as part of Tasmania’s economic development plan, to ensure local workers are prioritised over interstate workers across all sectors.
Greens Economic Development spokesperson Tim Morris MP raised the matter in the House of Assembly today, in light of reports that jobs with Transend to work on transmission lines are being advertised to seek fly- in fly-out workers.
“It is a worry that the Minister for Economic Development was not able to assure the Parliament that Transend, through its contractors, would be giving priority to suitably qualified Tasmanian workers first,” Mr Morris said.
“Given the unacceptable unemployment situation in Tasmania, we need to put the jobs of Tasmanians first.”
“It’s inevitable that not all skills are available locally, but the does not stop the Minister making sure that priority is given to identifying locals to take up local employment opportunities.”
“That means putting a set of protocols in place, as part of Tasmania’s Economic Development Plan, to ensure local workers are prioritised across all sectors.”
“The real issue is whether the rhetoric contained in the Economic Development Plan that seeks to maximise local employment does actually meet the reality in regard to what Government Businesses are doing on the ground.”
“The Greens are well aware that specialist workers are required to undertake the work on the Transend high voltage network, but the Minister should be able to articulate how local employment has been maximised.”
Tim Morris MP Greens Economic Development Spokesperson
