MITSUBISHI MOTORS

In reply to Mr GRIFFITHS (Goyder) (11 October 2010).

The Hon. J.D. HILL (Kaurna—Minister for Health, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister for the Southern Suburbs, Minister Assisting the Premier in the Arts): I am advised that:

1. By the end of March 2009, 896 retrenched workers had exited Mitsubishi. The Australian and South Australian Governments took decisive action between the initial announcement and those final retrenchments and implemented a range of programs. The key initiatives within the Government’s response were transitional assistance for workers, an industry assistance scheme for small businesses and an industry assistance scheme for larger employers.

To mitigate the impact on workers, the South Australian Government launched the $10 million Mitsubishi Labour Adjustment Package, for which the Australian Government provided $7.5 million and the State $2.5 million.

Under the joint package, the Transition Advisory Service provided a range of services to retrenched workers:

job search skills and techniques

career counselling/case management/employment brokerage

recognition of prior learning

training and licensing

wage subsidies to assist employers

relocation assistance within South Australia and interstate

self employment assistance, including small business training

other assistance with fares, tools, equipment and fees.

The success of the programs is borne out by the figures. As at May 2010, some 805 Mitsubishi workers, and an additional 144 workers from supply companies, registered for employment advisory services. Of these, 781, or 82 per cent, had been placed in employment.

Eligibility for workers to apply for the assistance ceased in October 2008, however, the provision of services continued beyond that date and workers who did not find work through the assistance package remain eligible for Commonwealth Government job seeker services.

The Department of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology has ceased monitoring the re-employment arising from the package specifically for Mitsubishi and supplier company workers.

The Office for the Southern Suburbs does not maintain figures on displaced Mitsubishi workers.