- Published:
- Thursday 15 December 2016
The Andrews Labor Government has partnered with major Melbourne manufacturing businesses to create more than 200 new jobs for retrenched automotive workers across Melbourne.
Visiting Alba Cheese Manufacturing in Tullamarine, Minister for Industry and Employment Wade Noonan announced another $6.47 million in grants from the $33 million Local Industry Fund for Transition (LIFT).
Alba Cheese will buy a new manufacturing plant to boost productivity, capitalising on four generations of cheese making in Italy and Australia, and will employ 15 new workers.
Investment from the Labor Government and Alba Cheese will allow the company to increase milk production from 70,000 litres to 160,000 a day, and to make 2800 kilograms of mozzarella an hour, up from 700 kilograms.
Other companies to receive the commercial-in-confidence LIFT grants are:
- Komipharm International in Dandenong South for pharmaceutical manufacturing, creating 40 jobs
- BEV Plastics in Braeside to purchase two new moulding machines, creating six jobs
- Shiny Embroidery in Fairfield to buy embroidery and screen printing machines, creating 14 new jobs
- WE-EF Lighting Pty Ltd in Braeside to buy an assembly plant, creating new jobs.
- Kitchen Innovations in Campbellfield for new machinery and manufacturing systems, creating 32 jobs
- Eco Garage Doors in Hallam for new equipment, creating 14 jobs.
- Ace Wire Works in Hallam for equipment to expand and diversify, creating five jobs
- Australian Crane and Machinery in Campbellfield for a new facility and machinery, creating 48 jobs
- Tanning Essentials in Thomastown to expand and buy new equipment, creating 12 new jobs
- Jaze Nominees in Seaford for new concrete manufacturing equipment, creating 50 jobs
- Encore Tissue to buy a new manufacturing line, creating 11 jobs
This year LIFT has created 450 jobs and more than 350 have been identified for ex automotive workers.
The LIFT fund is part of the Labor Government’s Towards Future Industries: Victoria’s Automotive Transition Plan, funding business expansions to create jobs and help retrenched workers move to new roles.
For more information about LIFT and expressions of interest visit: www.business.vic.gov.au
Quotes attributable to Minister for Industry and Employment, Wade Noonan
“Victoria needed a bold plan to get former auto industry workers into new jobs and we have delivered.”
“We are turning the decline in car manufacturing into a win for other industries, and importantly, for workers.”
Quotes attributable to Member for Niddrie, Ben Carroll
“We’re partnering with successful companies like Alba Cheese that have the potential to expand, diversify and create jobs.”
“We are creating new jobs and helping workers transition because Labor governments stand by workers.”