Northern Economic Plan

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS (15:08): My question is to the Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation. Can the minister update the chamber on how the Northern Economic Plan is assisting workers, and their families, who are at risk of losing their jobs in the automotive component companies?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Employment, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation, Minister for Automotive Transformation, Minister for Science and Information Economy) (15:08): I thank the member for his question and his ongoing interest in jobs in South Australia, particularly in the difficult area of automotive manufacturing. Yesterday I outlined some of the projects and paths that were announced recently in the Northern Economic Plan. As part of that announcement, additional support for workers employed in automotive supply chain companies, and their families, was announced.

When it comes to the workers, and their families, whose jobs are exposed to the automotive supply chain, we have led the way in providing assistance through our support package, the Automotive Workers in Transition Program. Through the program we are providing in excess of $7 million to assist automotive workers and their families transition to new employment. Eligible workers are supported through five key elements: information sessions, career advice and transition services, skills recognition, training, and business start-up support.

We know that appropriate responses to the challenge facing South Australia require constant review, and support programs for workers have necessarily evolved over time. When needs change we will look at programs and change them as required. As part of the Northern Economic Plan, we have recently announced changes to the Automotive Workers in Transition Program which include providing that career advice and mentoring on how to access training to spouses of partners, not just the workers themselves who are affected in automotive supply chain companies.

We have also extended the time frame workers have to access the support package. A fixed date of 30 June 2018 has now been set as the extended date for eligible participants to register for the program. Eligible labour hire workers will now be able to register for the program before they finish working with their employer which aligns with all other eligible workers. We have also expanded the eligible expenses covered through the program, so automotive supply chain workers will now be able to access funding for things like vocational licences or for travel to get to a new workplace or training location.

We understand the impact that the wind-down in the automotive industry has on workers and their families will only increase as the end of manufacturing draws closer. We are committed to changing our programs to meet changing circumstances, and that is one of the reasons that we have been calling on the federal government to do the same to change their programs to meet changing circumstances.

There is $795 million left in the automotive transition scheme, and we would like to see that scheme's eligibility criteria change to allow access to help industries and companies transition from automotive-exposed activities and also support industries that are going to take the place of those companies and provide jobs.