Jobs Queensland Bill 2015

As the minister responsible, defended the bill against opposition criticisms about delays, funding transparency and independence, arguing Jobs Queensland is legislatively independent and industry-led, unlike the former Ministerial Industry Commission.

“Jobs Queensland's self-determination has been ensured through legislation so that it operates completely independently of government.”— 2015-10-29View Hansard

As the responsible minister, introduced the bill to establish Jobs Queensland as an independent statutory body to advise on skills demand and workforce planning. Accepted all committee recommendations including amendments on membership diversity.

“This bill ensures that future workforce planning and independent industry advice is central to the government's skills and training priorities and investment decisions.”— 2015-10-28View Hansard

Announced LNP support for the bill but with significant reservations, arguing it replaces the successful Ministerial Industry Commission and is driven by ideology to put union bosses in charge of training. Criticised the lack of budget detail, KPIs or benchmarks for the $40 million allocation.

“The creation of Jobs Queensland seems to be all about ideology and putting union bosses back in charge of the training and apprenticeship system in Queensland.”— 2015-10-28View Hansard

As committee chair, supported the bill, citing submissions from the National Retail Association and Queensland Nurses' Union endorsing Jobs Queensland. Drew on experience as a former high school principal to illustrate the importance of matching training to workforce needs.

“Jobs Queensland will conduct the research and provide the evidence to inform the government where to invest its training requirements based on the future workforce development and planning needs.”— 2015-10-28View Hansard

As committee deputy chair, supported the bill while raising serious concerns about the lack of budget detail for the $40 million allocation, questioned the body's true independence given ministerial directions and departmental oversight, and defended the former Ministerial Industry Commission.

“Surely the minister must recognise that an allocation of $40 million—I repeat, $40 million—about which the department has ignored requests for detail from a parliamentary committee is a considerable amount of taxpayers' money.”— 2015-10-28View Hansard

Supported the bill as part of the Working Queensland framework, emphasising Jobs Queensland's role in providing independent industry-led advice and ensuring training investments support sustainable economic growth.

“Jobs Queensland will provide meaningful advice and will support effective workforce planning.”— 2015-10-28View Hansard

Supported the bill while expressing reservations about the lack of budget detail, comparing it to a blank cheque. Raised concerns about the original lack of regional representation and the body's failure to consider workforce supply alongside demand.

“The bill appears to be, you could say, a blank cheque which is handed out to whoever the government deems appropriate.”— 2015-10-28View Hansard

Supported the bill, arguing it would give his electorate's workers confidence in a future through long-term workforce planning and independent industry advice, after seeing the VET sector in his electorate torn to shreds under the previous government.

“Under the previous government, I saw the VET sector in my electorate torn to shreds, narrowing the future hopes of jobseekers and constituents needing to upskill to meet industry needs.”— 2015-10-28View Hansard

Supported the bill in principle but heavily criticised the $40 million budget as lacking transparency and accountability, arguing the body has no outcomes, timeframes, or direction. Warned against union influence and contrasted it with his own local employment initiative, Nerang2020.

“This is truly an exercise in wasting Queenslanders' hard-earned money, and the lack of detail, transparency and accountability for this expenditure is abhorrent at best.”— 2015-10-28View Hansard

Supported the bill, drawing on discussions with local businesses, unions, and community groups who all expressed support for government leadership on skills development and workforce planning.

“With the passage of this bill we are not only listening to these people; we are empowering them to give frank and fearless advice—something we should all welcome in our Westminster tradition.”— 2015-10-28View Hansard

Supported the concept of a partnership between industry, employers and government but expressed concerns about the make-up of the advisory body, urging the minister to ensure membership is broad and not dominated by unions, and emphasised the need for rural and regional representation.

“We do not want this to be an organisation that is just listening to the CFMEU, the ETU, the Nurses' Union and other unions in this state.”— 2015-10-28View Hansard

Supported the bill as another plank in the government's jobs plan, citing endorsements from the National Retail Association, Motor Trades Association and Queensland Nurses' Union. Criticised the LNP's record on TAFE and vocational training.

“Investing in skills and training is an investment in our community. The dignity of work, universal access to education and equality of opportunity are at the core of the values of the Palaszczuk Labor government.”— 2015-10-28View Hansard

Supported the bill as fulfilling the government's commitment to reinstate the independent voice of industry on skills, emphasising the need for strategic workforce planning to ensure Queensland's VET sector is the strongest in Australia.

“Strategic workforce planning of this nature is imperative to ensure that we have the right skills in the right quantity at the right time.”— 2015-10-28View Hansard

Supported the bill as a key part of the Working Queensland framework, contrasting the Palaszczuk government's jobs focus with the Newman government's record of rising unemployment, particularly in Ipswich where unemployment had risen from 5.3 to 9 per cent.

“We have a plan for jobs now and jobs for the future.”— 2015-10-28View Hansard