Thursday, 24 March 2022

Ministers statements: transport industry

Ms HORNE (Williamstown—Minister for Ports and Freight, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, Minister for Fishing and Boating) (14:22): I rise to update the house on this government’s $3 million investment in creating jobs to keep Victorian freight on the move. You would have to be blind not to see that supply chains have been hammered all over the world during the pandemic, but in Victoria this task has been made even more difficult by a shortage of skilled people in workforce. So we are making sure that freight keeps moving by training jobseekers and linking them with transport and warehouse businesses.

The government is fast-tracking 125 jobs in partnership with the Victorian Transport Association over the next two years. This new partnership will deliver specific training in critical areas such as heavy vehicle driving, forklift driving—although you will have to be over 16—and warehousing. Importantly, it will create well-paid long-term employment, and the VTA will place graduates with transport companies to ensure that they are set for long-term success. We also know this is a sector where women make up just 16 per cent of employees, and that is why we have made women a priority focus for the program, particularly women over 45, as well as people under 25, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and people with non-English speaking backgrounds.

We know our freight task is set to double over the next decade, which is why we need more people trained and ready to go. Whether it is supporting our exporters in regional Victoria like quality agricultural products from Mildura such as grapes, or the export of barley and other important grains through the port of Geelong, we need a workforce ready to move them. There are times when you need a light touch to support industry, but there are times when you need to lean in to stop a sector falling over. Now is the time to do just that. Unlike those on the other side, who get a bit wobbly when they need to have a tough conversation with their federal mates, we are getting on with the job of supporting the regions. It is intoxicating to know that the Andrews Labor government is getting more people into quality jobs to support our producers and our exporters.