ADDRESS TO CENTRELINK EMPLOYMENT EXPO

_{25 October, 2006}

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Well thanks very much for that introduction and isn’t it exciting to see so many people here at the Mount Isa Employment Expo.

It’s great to see the always busy, very energetic Mayor of Mount Isa, Ron McCullock here.  Good to see you Ron and thanks for coming along.

I usually acknowledge my elected colleagues at things like this, people like Bob Katter who couldn’t bee here and Betty Keirnan but today I want to acknowledge first the extra special VIPs at the launch of this Expo and that is Bo de la Cruz, who you’ll all know from her exploits as one of Australia’s top touch football champions and Angry Anderson, the star of stage and screen well known to many generations of Australians – and I’m told Angry that the last time you were in Mount Isa you were actually thrown out of town.  Oh it wasn’t the last time it was the first time you were here – I’m sorry about that and I know Angry will tell you the real story later on.  But I know he’s very welcome back here at the moment as part of the team bringing together the Expo.  Both Bo and Angry are Ambassadors and passionate people when it comes to making sure our young citizens get the right start in life by being connected to the right type of training and employment.

And that’s what this Expo is all about.

It is an initiative of the Federal Minister for Human Services.  The Hon Joe Hockey who has brought together many of the agencies of his portfolio and other agencies of both State and Federal Government as well, to highlight job opportunities in this region and the training available to ensure that those jobs can be filled.

Australia is a very lucky country and we all enjoy a very happy and comfortable life with an economy that is said to be one of the outstanding economies of the world at the present time.  And part of the reason that we are doing so well is because of the huge mineral wealth from the Mount Isa area, from the North West mineral province that is exported overseas, particularly to China, and that brings millions of export dollars into our country and provides wealth and employment for Australians.

But there is only one thing that is holding us back at the moment and that is a skills shortage in our mining and metallurgy industry and in fact in all parts of Australia – and indeed the world.  This critical shortage of skilled labour is something the Government is addressing in conjunction with major employers like Extrata who I’m pleased to see is here today.  Extrata certainly plays its part in taking on many new apprentices each year.  I understand a new intake is about to happen in the next few weeks.

The centrepiece of the Australian Government’s push to create new skills in our workforce is the Australian Technical College and I’m delighted to see people from the Australian Technical College at a stand here.

Now the Technical College is not going to be actually in Mount Isa at this stage – the people here are from the Australian Technical College in Townsville – but they will be training people for the mining and processing industries that are so very important to this part of the world – and who knows when a fully fledged ATC may be opened in Mount Isa.  It’s good to see TAFE here at the Expo because I know TAFE and the Australian Technical College will be working very closely together to ensure that we get the right training and skills for those entering our workforce.

I don’t want to leave this opportunity pass without also acknowledging the two stalls here from the Australian Defence Forces.

There are many, many very good jobs in both the Reserves and the Regular Forces and the people here from the Reserves and the Regular Forces will tell all of those interested what opportunities are available.

Both the Reserves and the Regular Forces do a mighty job for Australian and the Government is so very proud of them but they do need more people and there will be great opportunities for Mount Isans to join the Defence Forces either in a part time capacity through the Reserve Forces or full time through the Regular Army, Navy or Air Force.

Our Defence Forces ensure that our democracy and our way of life that makes Australia so very special is protected and they do need our support.  And they need additional people.

I would certainly urge all young people attending the Expo to talk to the Careers Advisors at either of the Defence Force stalls up in the corner there.

There’s so many other participants in the Expo that I can’t name them all but it’s great to see the Chamber of Commerce here, individual private businesses in the Mount Isa area all coming together to indicate vacancies that are available and good jobs that are there for the asking.

There is also a jobs board upstairs and there are many good jobs identified even as we speak.

I’ve had a bit of a look at them myself because in my business of politics you never quite sure when you’ll be thrown out of job – so I might be looking for a job one day and I’ll know that if I find the nearest Employment Expo, I’ll have a good chance of getting gainful employment – that is if ever anyone believes that any ex-politician could ever be gainfully employed!

As I mentioned earlier it’s great to see so many people here.

I do want to acknowledge Isobel Holt who welcomed us on behalf of the Kallakadoon people, who are the traditional owners of this area.  My parents were born in Cloncurry and they always told me stories of what a magnificent people the Kallakadoons  were – very good warriors but very good people as well and so thank you for your welcome Isobel.

But I do want to highlight the people who have pulled this all together and who are organising and operating the Expo for you.

Sue Welin, Malcolm Mill, Mick Gibbs and Peter Searstar you’ve done a wonderful job in getting the Expo together and I congratulate you and all of your team at Centrelink for your work in co-ordinating and bringing this together.  I know there’s been a lot of very hard work, a lot of anxious moments, but it’s tremendous to see it all happening today.

Can I also mention the other partner agencies of this Expo who come under the jurisdiction of the Minister for Human Services and they are Centrelink, CRS, Australian Child Support Agency, Health Services Australia and Australian Hearing Service.

I’ve met most of the personnel from those agencies as I’ve looked through the Expo and I particularly want to thank them for their commitment and enthusiasm to this project.

Ladies and Gentlemen, this is the very first Employment Expo – it will be a first of many and it’s another feather in Mount Isa’s cap that the first one of these Expo’ is being held in this city.  I know that all the young people who are here and there are many who have come through the door already – and the many who will come after school – will all find plenty to hear and see at this Employment Expo that give them a good feel for employment that is available to help them with their future.

It is very important for our young people and also essential for Australia’s continued growth.

Again to you Sue and the Centrelink team my very best wishes and heartiest congratulations on putting together this first every Employment Expo that I am now very honoured to officially declare open.

Good luck to you all and well done.

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