The AMWU has launched a campaign called Manufacturing Matters aimed at combating the deepening manufacturing crisis in the lead up to the Queensland election.
The union is calling on both political parties to commit to supporting manufacturing - the second-largest employer of Queensland workers and the second most important generator of wealth in terms of gross state product.
AMWU State Secretary Andrew Dettmer said it is vital that Government moves quickly to get the best out of major projects for Queensland manufacturing to stem potential job losses.
Mr Dettmer expressed concern at the Liberal National Party’s silence on the issue.
“There’s nothing in Lawrence Springborg’s campaign that gives us any confidence that he understands the issue or is prepared to do something about it.
“They have no policy or initiatives that will help the industry in any way. All they have are slash and burn policies for cutting costs across the Government which will be massively detrimental to the industry if implemented.”
“The LNP commitment to manufacturing is abysmal and the industry will be in serious jeopardy if Springborg takes over leadership of Queensland.”
Mr Dettmer said that the Bligh State Government had very quickly responded to the global financial crisis in mining, construction, tourism, apprenticeships and traineeships, but they also needed to better address manufacturing.
“The Premier needs to commit a re-elected Bligh Government to initiate more changes.”
The AMWU has called on the State Government to:
- Restructure the various State Departments to focus more on the requirements of Queensland manufacturing and improve decision-making processes to ensure the maximum engagement of Queensland industry;
- Create a new Coordinator General for Manufacturing with equivalent powers to the Coordinator General in Infrastructure and Planning;
- Revamp existing Government procurement guidelines and ensure that local firms have full, fair and reasonable opportunity to bid for major project work, including a premium for local content (noting that the NT Govt has recently announced a premium for NT firms of 20 percent over other firms as an industry development initiative);
- Ensure that the Coordinator General for Infrastructure and Planning requires that local firms be involved in the tendering for major projects, such that major projects which do not comply with this guideline are not approved.