Wednesday, 9 March 2022

Melbourne Airport jobs

Mr McGUIRE (Broadmeadows) (09:59): ‘More local jobs for local people’ is my strategy for the expansion of one of Victoria’s major economic drivers, Melbourne Airport. I have proposed an ‘on just terms’ strategy for economic and social development in talks with airport officials planning the third runway. Melbourne Airport is the biggest single-site employer outside the CBD, and I established the Melbourne Airport Joblink to provide local jobs for local people, originally with former airport CEO Chris Woodruff and Hume City Council.

This strategy is good for business, communities and people. I have invited Melbourne Airport officials to present their expansion plans at the next meeting of the Broadmeadows Revitalisation Board 4.0 so we can coordinate with local providers, featuring Kangan Institute, to match training, skills and qualifications to emerging jobs. This enlightened self-interest strategy with business has paid dividends for decades and has provided social benefits and jobs where they are needed most in Broadmeadows. Proof of this value is that Melbourne Airport draws 70 per cent of its employees from neighbouring municipalities. Melbourne Airport is Australia’s only international curfew-free airport. This is of huge significance and value to the state of Victoria and nationally, and how we address the ‘on just terms’ issues with local communities and families is vital for our economic and social development and delivering jobs where they are needed most.