Joint Statement:

Minister for Employment, Training and Industrial Relations and Minister for Sport
The Honourable Tom Barton

Premier of Queensland
The Honourable Peter Beattie

Wednesday, April 19, 2006

Government breaks 100,000 jobs barrier

Queensland Government’s Breaking the Unemployment Cycle initiative has exceeded its target of creating 100,000 jobs for Queensland – and a year ahead of schedule.

Announcing the milestone Premier Peter Beattie said the Government has invested $665 million into the initiative since its introduction in October 1998.

He said the initiative had helped more than 40,000 additional people gain valuable job-related assistance.

“During the seven-and-a-half year life of Breaking the Unemployment Cycle, it has helped more than 37 jobseekers a day to find work,” Mr Beattie said.

“Overall the initiative has been a resounding success and its real success is that many of the people assisted have been among the most disadvantaged in the workforce.

Mr Beattie said although unemployment in Queensland has fallen from 9.5% under the Coalition to the current figure of 5.3% there are still many groups and individuals who require assistance.

“Reaching the target earlier than expected means we can continue to help disadvantaged people find employment,” he said.

The State Government set up the Breaking the Unemployment Cycle with the dual objective of helping disadvantaged jobseekers regain their employment competitiveness, and encouraging new, entry-level jobs in industries crucial to the State’s development.

Employment, Training and Industrial Relations Minister Tom Barton said the initiative originally began as a $283 million commitment to create 24,500 jobs over four years.

Its early success led the Government to expand it to a six-year, $473.9 million commitment to create more than 56,000 jobs.

“It was again revised in October 2002 with the target of creating 100,000 jobs for Queensland by mid-2007 and additional funding of $269.7 million, bringing the total investment to $743.6 million,” Mr Barton said.

“In addition to this the Queensland Government has made available up to $5 million per annum since 1999 to assist retrenched workers under the Worker Assistance Program.”

Across Queensland, since Breaking the Unemployment Cycle began:

• 15,121 jobseekers have gained paid work and experience on 1148 community projects that received $161 million.

• 32,021 people have been given job-search and other related assistance.

• $63.9 million in cash incentives has been paid to 17,057 private sector employers and 32 group training organisations who have employed 27,105 additional apprentices and 8305 additional trainees in crucial, skills-shortage industries.

• State and local government agencies and community organisations have created 20,424 extra traineeships, 1006 extra apprenticeships and 1438 school-based positions.

• 1822 apprenticeships were created under the Housing Industry Trade Training (Plus) program and 7062 apprenticeships, traineeships and cadetships have been created under the Government’s 10% Training Policy.

• 11,806 jobseekers including young people, unemployed early school leavers and ex-offenders received intensive employment and training assistance through projects that received $23.36 million in funding.

• 7638 mature-aged jobseekers have received tailored assistance including job-search and job preparation assistance to help them compete in the labour market with funding totalling $7.48 million. Of the total mature-aged jobseekers assisted, 30% (2294) obtained employment.

• Since January 1, 2005, 342 parents and carers have received customised employment and training assistance through 24 projects at a cost of $2.1 million under the Back to Work: Parents and Carers program.

Mr Beattie and Mr Barton praised community-based organisations, local councils and employers for helping place more than 100,000 Queenslanders into jobs.

“Thousands of community organisations, employers and local councils across the State have given their support to the Breaking the Unemployment Cycle initiative and helped produce this fantastic result,” Mr Beattie said.

“I thank them on behalf of all Queenslanders.”

/ends

Media Contacts: Premier’s Office – 3224 4500
                       Minister’s Office – 3225 2017

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