Regional Jobs and Investment Package for Wide Bay/Flynn/Hinkler

• Local committee to identify investment priorities for the Coalition’s $20 million jobs package announced

• Funding for local infrastructure, business innovation and skills and training.

• Coalition Government letting local communities decide their own future

Minister for Regional Development Fiona Nash together with the Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien, Federal Member for Flynn Ken O’Dowd and Federal Member for Hinkler Keith Pitt announced the members of the Wide Bay Burnett Regional Jobs and Investment Packages (RJIP) Local Planning Committee today.

Mr Bill Trevor has been appointed chair of the committee along with the following members: 

• Ms Leone Aslett

• Ms Nancy Bates

• Mr Stephen Cooper

• Ms Kathy Duff

• Mr Eric Law

• Mr Kerren Smith

• Mr Don Waugh

• Mr Glen Winney.

“These people are leaders in their local communities and have the important responsibility of representing their communities,” said Minister Nash. 

“This Local Planning Committee will nominate the sectors of local industry the package will invest in on behalf of local people.

“I aim to help build the kinds of communities our children and grandchildren either want to stay in or come back to, and investing in sustainable local jobs helps grow that kind of community.”

Mr O’Brien said the Local Planning Committee will develop a Local Investment Plan that will list the forward-looking growth sectors which it thinks will create sustainable jobs for the future in Wide Bay Burnett.

“Once the Local Investment Plan is done, the applications from Wide Bay Burnett region can roll in,” said Mr O’Brien.

Mr O’Dowd said the Federal Government’s aim is to create more jobs and export opportunities.

“We aim to harness the broad range of skills in the Wide Bay Burnett region to create more jobs,” said Mr O’Dowd.

Mr Pitt said the Coalition invests in the regions because the Coalition understands Australia’s cities cannot exist without our regions, which supply cities their water, food and electricity.

“We’re so proud to give the Wide Bay Burnett region a $20 million shot in the arm,” Mr Pitt said.

“Our 10 Regional Jobs and Investment Packages across Australia are worth a total of $220 million and aim to deliver secure jobs, which will still be there well into the future,” said Mr Pitt.

Funding will be available across three streams: Local Infrastructure, Business Innovation and Skills and Training.

For more information visit the Regional Jobs and Investment Package website.