Qld govt 'must acknowledge' importance of manufacturing
The downturn in mining has seen manufacturing companies in regional Queensland 'close their doors', causing job losses in communities – and the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union (AMWU) is calling on state and federal governments to intervene.
AMWU assistant state secretary Terry Bradley said local workers are hurting in regional Queensland after companies have suffered at the decline of the mining boom.
"Manufacturing companies in regional Queensland have made redundancies or gone into liquidation and it's the workers who are paying for it," Bradley said.
"The government must recognise the importance of maintaining the manufacturing industry in central Queensland and step in to protect it from being taken offshore.
"It is vital manufacturing in Queensland is strong and state and federal governments must acknowledge this.
"Manufacturing was snubbed by the Newman government's four pillars which included tourism, agriculture, construction and resources.
"It is time the government stood up and saw that manufacturing is the backbone of regional Queensland communities, economy and employment rate.
