Wednesday, 6 March 2024

Gas sector job losses

David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (12:09): (446) My question is to the Minister for Regional Development. I refer to the closure announced yesterday of the Seeley gas appliance manufacturing plant in Albury–Wodonga and the shocking loss of 125 manufacturing jobs that has been directly blamed on the Allan Labor government’s gas substitution plan, and I ask: isn’t it a fact that just a few years ago the Andrews Labor government provided financial incentives to Seeley International to establish in Wodonga and that now the Allan Labor government has put in place shocking disincentives that have driven the firm away, with consequent job losses?

Gayle TIERNEY (Western Victoria – Minister for Skills and TAFE, Minister for Regional Development) (12:10): I thank the member for his question. Can I first state my disappointment and of course my heartfelt concerns for those workers and their families. As a past union secretary in an industry that was hit by job losses, I well and truly understand the impacts of job losses not just on individuals and their families but also on their communities. It is always a very, very tough time at the time, but also it has a long tail as well.

From the outset can I just inform the house that this particular company did transfer from New South Wales to Victoria, so we were able to bring this company, with a range of incentives that were already available at the time, into this state. I know that RDV staff have also been working around the clock in terms of supporting regional businesses so that they can grow and obviously provide safe and stable jobs in regional Victoria.

David Davis interjected.

Gayle TIERNEY: On that point, Mr Davis, the fact of the matter is that there has been significant jobs growth in regional Victoria – you should know that – and there has been particularly good jobs growth in Wodonga. So to come in here and then say various other things to denigrate what has actually happened in regional Victoria – because that seems to be the playbook from those opposite at the moment, to talk down regional Victoria, to talk down jobs and to not recognise that there has been jobs growth –

Members interjecting.

Sonja Terpstra: On a point of order, President, I cannot hear the minister’s answer because of the constant yelling and interjection from those opposite. I ask that the minister be –

The PRESIDENT: I uphold the point of order. The minister will be heard for the rest of her last minute in silence.

Gayle TIERNEY: Thank you. Again, for those opposite, you need to be informed that at least this government has invested over $41 billion in regional Victoria since 2015. This is a government that is very proactive. We are the ones that are there when these sorts of situations happen. Transition to work is part of our DNA. When things like this happen, we make sure that the support services are available so that there is a better transition for those workers.

This is a case also where the member is obviously trying to have a couple of bites of the apple, because last night his adjournment was exactly on this issue, and it was directed to the minister for energy. Then he walks in here and has a question for the regional development minister. I am happy to handle a lot of these questions, but the member, again, needs to make up his mind who he is actually wanting to get answers from.

David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (12:13): Just for the minister’s benefit, the previous Minister for Regional Development Jaala Pulford said in a press release:

… that’s why we’re continuing to back companies like Seeley’s that see the real opportunities to be gained by basing themselves across the border.

I thereby say, Minister: isn’t it a fact that the shocking gas plan – the gas ban plan – is undermining these opportunities and that instead of backing companies, the Allan government is now actively driving them out with its gas ban?

Gayle TIERNEY (Western Victoria – Minister for Skills and TAFE, Minister for Regional Development) (12:14): All I would say to the member opposite is that there are a number of initiatives that are taking place that directly connect up with gas appliance businesses in regional Victoria as well as metropolitan Melbourne, and he should seek more information in regard to that from the appropriate minister.