Libby Coker is calling for the urgent introduction of a regional jobs plan following the release of alarming regional employment figures.

Department of Social Services data reveals that unemployed regional Australians have to fight twice as hard to get a job compared to their city counterparts.

There are 28 unemployed people for every regional job vacancy compared to the ratio of 13 to one in capital cities.

Ms Coker said this data was sounding the alarm for local jobs in our electorate of Corangamite.

All along our coast and in tourism hot spots, businesses are doing it hard, she said.

I am getting calls every day from individuals and business owners who need greater support.

Instead of support we are just getting political rhetoric from our Federal Government.

Political point scoring is not constructive. What we need is a local jobs plan that invests in much-needed regional infrastructure, reboots our economy and helps people get to work, access services, and provides facilities for our growing communities, like rail and roads, pools and local manufacturing, projects.

Its critical the Morrison Government gets on board and considers a comprehensive package that could also include incentives, rebates and tax write-offs, to help struggling businesses

The Coalition needs to stop dragging the chain on innovative manufacturing creating a framework that enables waste and recycling hubs which make products from recycled resources. It makes absolute sense, its good for new jobs and its good for our environment. for jobs a real win-win for all.

Ms Cokers comments coincide with a keystone speech from Labor Party leader Anthony Albanese, who on Wednesday said Australia must tap into the potential of our regions.

Mr Albanese said creating good jobs in regional towns was key to maintaining Australias economic growth.

Around two thirds of Australias export earnings come from regional industries including resources, agriculture, tourism, education and manufacturing. But too often regional communities have seen good jobs, wealth and opportunity flow back into the capital cities, he said.

There so much potential for so much more growth.

Ms Coker said Corangamite which covers parts of Geelong, the Bellarine, Surf Coast, Golden Plains and Otway regions must make the most of this opportunity.

This year has been devastating for many. As we look to rebuild after the pandemic, we need to look at what makes us as a community great and use that for our economic advantage, she said.

We need to invest in our greatest assets the environment, regional universities and TAFE, and local manufacturing.

We are lucky here in Corangamite to have all of these assets right at our doorstop and it has the potential to drive economic growth. But only if the Government has a fully thought out plan for them.