Palaszczuk hits city to reveal new jobs policy

IPSWICH has become a centrepiece of the ALP's campaign to win back the State Government.

IPSWICH has become a centrepiece of the ALP's campaign to win back the State Government.

After holding its first post-election caucus in Ipswich last March, the State ALP used the Ipswich May Day march on Saturday to launch its first policy in opposition.

State Labor Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk, who went to school at St Mary's in Ipswich, eschewed the larger Brisbane march yesterday to announce the Ready for Work policy, designed to replace the Skilling Queenslanders training program cut by the LNP Government.

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The policy will target youth unemployment by engaging P&Cs and community groups.

"Young people need help to land a job and our initiative will help them by having the Ready for Work program delivered by school P&Cs or other community groups through a partnership with the state government," Ms Palaszczuk said.

"Community groups will be able to deliver evening or weekend courses of six to eight weeks, giving young people the practical tools they need to successfully seek work."

Bundamba State MP Jo-Ann Miller said despite the wipe-out in last year's state election, the labour movement remained strong in Ipswich.

"Ipswich is a very strong union city, it's a very strong Labor city," she said.

Ms Miller said Ipswich had already hosted the first Opposition caucus and was now home to the first policy launch.

"Ipswich is very important to us," she said.

"We held our first caucus as an opposition here, and now we've decided to take this opportunity to launch our first policy as an opposition in Ipswich."

Hundreds of Ipswich unionists marched through Woodend and the Ipswich CBD, chanting slogans and waving banners protesting State Government job cuts and proposed asset sales.

To the sound of the RAAF Amberley Pipes and Drums, members of unions, including the Queensland Teachers' Union, the CFMEU, United Voice, Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union and the Transport Workers' Union among others, were led by Ms Palaszczuk alongside Ms Miller and Federal Member for Blair Shayne Neumann.

Mr Neumann said the march was the biggest he had seen in five years.

Ms Palaszczuk told the crowd the Labor Party was committed to recognising the historic ties between the labour movement and May 1.

Queensland Council of Unions Ipswich president Brynn Williams said the turnout was impressive.

"There were a lot of people there who wanted to voice their concerns against the Newman Government," she said.

Originally published as Palaszczuk hits city to reveal new jobs policy