The Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union (Queensland and Northern Territory Branch) welcomed news today that, if elected, a Shorten Labor Government would deliver a local procurement policy that will create more local manufacturing jobs in Queensland.
In the lead up to the Queensland State Election, the AMWU QLD/NT secured a commitment from the Palaszczuk Government that they would deliver a "Buy Queensland" procurement policy to protect local jobs. This also included a commitment that all future contracts for new trains will be made in Queensland.
After a hard fought campaign by union members, Bill Shorten has today announced that a Shorten Labor Government will deliver a National Procurement Policy that will create more local jobs, strengthen local businesses and require one in 10 workers on major projects to be apprentices from the local area.
Rohan Webb, State Secretary of the AMWU QLD/NT said this morning, "The AMWU has always campaigned hard for strong local procurement policies. We know that when you invest in secure local jobs, the whole community benefits."
"The AMWU is incredibly proud to have championed this policy in Queensland and now on a National level. We know that local manufacturing jobs depend on strong local businesses and we want to see Governments put their money where it counts - back into local communities."
"This policy will make a major impact in regional communities such as Maryborough, Rockhampton and Townsville, where local workers have been let down by the Federal LNP Government."
"This is win for every worker in Queensland. This is also a win for the union members who fought for this policy, the apprentices who travelled to Canberra to lobby their Federal MPs and the workers who stood up for their local communities. This is a win for them and we are very proud today, as always, to represent them."
