Senator Sue Boyce, Senator for Queensland, met members of Gladstone Regional Council today.
“It was an opportunity to get Council’s viewpoint of the issues they face in their new structure. Obviously jobs are the number one priority, and the Council has made a number of requests that will maintain employment for Gladstone’s workforce.
“I think we all acknowledge that the current financial crisis will hit harder in Gladstone than in most other parts of Australia, but we also need to do all we can to get Federal and State funding into Gladstone.
“According to Centrelink figures, unemployment in Gladstone has risen almost 40 per cent since the Rudd Government came to office, from 681 in December 2007 to 947 in March 2009. Of course, this doesn’t cover underemployment from those who have had shifts reduced and overtime cut back.
“Council have given me their list of priorities for the region, and I’ll be raising them in the next parliamentary session.
“Gladstone is fortunate in having State MP, Liz Cunningham, and a progressive Council fighting for them,” Senator Boyce said.
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