- Published:
- Tuesday 24 November 2015
More than 1,000 new jobs have been created through government procurement projects, according to a new annual report tabled in Parliament today.
The Victorian Industry Participation Policy Annual Report shows setting local content requirements on government projects generated around $1.12 billion worth of local industry orders, creating 981 new local jobs and 197 new local apprenticeships in 2014-15.
An existing 4,000 Victorian jobs, apprenticeships and traineeships were also saved through these projects.
The Annual Report shows that the Andrews Labor Government has returned industry participation policy to what it should be doing: creating new jobs and growing our economy.
After less than one year in office, the Labor Government has deemed 13 projects strategic under the Victorian Industry Participation Policy and set strong local content requirements for each of them – compared to the former Coalition Government who only declared eight strategic projects during its entire four years in office.
Strategic projects set by the Labor Government include the 15 new government schools to be built under the New Schools Public Private Partnership, the upgrade of the Latrobe Valley Regional Hospital, and the design and construction phase of the CityLink-Tullamarine Freeway widening.
The Government is currently reviewing the Victorian Industry Participation Policy to strengthen it even further. The discussion paper is available online for public comment until 30 November 2015: economicdevelopment.vic.gov.au/about-us/strategies-and-initiatives/review-of-victorian-industry-participation-policy-dedjtr-discussion-paper.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Industry, Lily D’Ambrosio
“The Labor Government has set minimum requirements for local jobs, products and services on 13 projects in less than one year in office. Compare that to the Liberals, who did so for only 8 projects during their entire four years in government.”
“We’re using Victoria’s purchasing power on major government projects to create jobs for Victorians and boost local business.”