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House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Second Session (51-2)
2008-02-14 Daily Xml
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MITSUBISHI MOTORS

Mr BIGNELL (Mawson) (14:21): My question is to the Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education. What—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Mawson has the call.

Mr BIGNELL: What support is the government providing to workers following the announcement of the closure of the Mitsubishi plant?

The Hon. P. CAICA (Colton—Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education, Minister for Science and Information Economy, Minister for Youth, Minister for Gambling) (14:22): I thank the member for Mawson for this very important question, and highlight the fact that he has many Mitsubishi workers within his electorate. At the very least, he cares about them, even if the comments coming from the other side might indicate that that is not the case for others.

As the house is aware, earlier this week the Premier described the unfortunate circumstances that led to the announcement of the closure of Mitsubishi in South Australia, and he emphasised the state government's commitment to supporting the workers as they transition to new employment opportunities. Members are aware that the Premier and I visited the plant on Tuesday and spoke with many of the workers. It is quite apparent that many of them are highly skilled and will be self-directing in terms of pursuing ongoing employment. But others stand to benefit by having ready access to advice and support, which the state government is providing, as they contemplate their new careers, further training opportunities or other options that will be available to them.

It should be noted by members that, while Mitsubishi's closure affects approximately 930 workers on the production line, in trades and professional and administrative areas, the closure also impacts on approximately 200 direct suppliers and contractors. I can assure members that they are also eligible for assistance through the state government's support package.

This week Mitsubishi provided workers with an information kit, which outlines the range of support services, and many workers have already begun to receive individual advice and counselling. It includes information about redundancy packages, superannuation, other entitlements, and access to what is very important, that is, sound financial advice. Further to this, my department, DFEEST, and our commonwealth counterparts have established a transitional advisory service, which will be fully operational on Monday. This is a $5 million package funded from a joint $10 million state and commonwealth assistance package, which was announced last week.

The important aspect of this particular package is that it includes tailor-made support for workers, which will help them move towards new jobs. It provides an opportunity for workers to individually discuss their options with state and commonwealth government support staff. Workers can then register for this intensive support program at any time from next Monday. I would also like to emphasise that the workers will have up to six months to register while they weigh up all the possibilities. This is about ensuring that they have available to them the full range of options and the support that is required to make sure that they are in a position to properly best consider the possibilities and options that they have.

The support services are comprehensive, and workers will be made aware of opportunities for employment in areas of skill demand. We will be focusing on where the skill demand is and orienting those workers towards that if that is their specific choice.

I would like to highlight a few of the specific elements. The program includes the development of job search skills and techniques; career counselling, case management and employment brokerage; advice on recognition of prior learning. As the Premier and others can testify who have been down there talking to the workers, they have an enormous number of skills. It is a matter of looking at the best way of translating those skills to skills in demand.

It also includes training and licensing, wage subsidies to assist employers, self-employment assistance, including small business training complemented by financial advice. Other assistance that will be provided includes such items as fares, tools, equipment and other fees associated with job and training selection processes.

It is also important to note that workers will be supported through their chosen programs before and after leaving Mitsubishi. Those workers who find jobs immediately—and there will be a number who will be able to do that—will still be eligible for on-the-job training and other support services that will also be supported through commonwealth wage subsidies for their employers. In addition to the on-site support, there is also a state government hotline that is available to all workers, and I know members will have their pencils out. It is 1800 805 488.

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The Hon. P. CAICA: The member for Bragg probably doesn't have as many Mitsubishi workers as her constituents as we do over here.

Ms Chapman: They're not writing it down.

The Hon. P. CAICA: No, well, neither are you.

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. P. CAICA: That's right, because you have no workers there. It is a very important issue and I will make sure to send that number out to you in case you do have a constituent who happens to work at Mitsubishi.

The state government is committed to supporting these workers, as I know is the opposition, through this difficult phase to ensure that they are in the best possible position to take up the tremendous employment opportunities that South Australia has to offer. I encourage the opposition to get behind this program in a bipartisan way.

Mr Williams interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Does the member for Mackillop have a question for the minister, because I am happy to give him the call. No question? Well, perhaps he could be quiet.

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