The Minister for Skills and Training, Brendan O’Connor, will join the federal Member for Corangamite, Libby Coker MP to convene a local Jobs and Skills Roundtable on October 10 to bring together employers, unions, industry and community groups to discuss the jobs and skills issues which many belive are holding the region back.

Minister O’Connor said as a nation Australia was experiencing skills and labour shortages across industries that were vital to the health and wellbeing of Australians and the economy.

“The outcomes from the roundtable will help inform the Federal Government’s Employment White Paper.

“After nearly a decade of inaction under the previous government, made worse by the decision to abandon migrant workers during the pandemic lockdowns, it is vital to plan and to act to ensure that Australia has the skills it needs.”

“Our goal is to build a bigger, better-trained and more productive workforce, boost incomes and living standards, and create more opportunities for more Australians to get ahead and to reach their aspirations,” Minister O’Connor said.

Ms Coker said the roundtable would be an opportunity to put the spotlight on the local community.

“We want to boost the income, opportunities and living standards of all in our region and who better to advise us of the ways to do that than the real experts, the people who live and work in our local community,” Ms Coker said.

“In the wake of the National Jobs & Skills Summit in Canberra, we now have a fantastic opportunity to provide local solutions to help shape the future of Australia’s labour market and improve the lives of those in this electorate.”

Leaders from the arts, education, manufacturing, tourism, business, employment and training sectors will present problems and solutions at the roundtable as they try to collectively solve some of the economic and employment challenges facing the region.

BRENDAN O’CONNOR
MINISTER FOR SKILLS AND TRAINING

LIBBY COKER MP
FEDERAL MEMBER FOR CORANGAMITE