Manufacturing Minister Glenn Butcher holds regional forum in Mackay

Queensland’s manufacturing Minister acknowledges the skills crisis crippling the regions will take time to resolve, but he believes Mackay is better placed than just about any other town to build out a bright future.

There is no “short fix” to the worker shortages crippling regional Queensland, the state’s manufacturing Minister has warned, but Mackay is better placed than any other town to overcome the challenge.

Regional Development and Manufacturing Minister Glenn Butcher said the Sugar City’s pre-existing industry, ports and manufacturing potential put it ahead of others in the competition for new business and skilled workers.

“Mackay has by far the biggest sheds, the biggest opportunities, there is so much manufacturing capability and industry here,” he said.

“I can just see some of these local businesses picking up the opportunity to manufacture the electrolysers used in the hydrogen industry, solar panels in the future, the cabling that goes onto it.

“They have got the best of everything here and I think if anyone can do it, Mackay can do it.”

Mr Butcher hosted a forum this week alongside Mackay MP Julieanne Gilbert at the Resources Centre of Excellence to address the skills crisis and said Manufacturing Skills Queensland and the Mackay Manufacturing Hub offered some early pathways to a solution.

Regional Development and Manufacturing Minister Glenn Butcher (left) and Mackay MP Julieanne Gilbert led a forum at the Resources Centre of Excellence on September 26 to discuss solutions to the skills crisis crippling the region. Picture: Contributed

“I think it is all coming together,” he said.

“We can’t just train and skill people overnight, it is going to take some time.”

A broad spectrum of people contributed to the forum, including small business owners, a capsicum farmer and representatives from CQUniversity and BHP.

The necessity of adequate housing and liveability to secure a skilled workforce was also discussed.

Mackay has a rental vacancy rate of just 0.5 per cent and median rent has increased from $400 to $425 throughout 2022.

Mr Butcher said ideas from the forum would be collated by the Office for Rural and Regional Queensland in Mackay, which would then deliver a report to his office.

Mr Butcher will deliver the report in turn to Cabinet and Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.

“Regional forums are about strengthening our government’s partnership with regional Queensland and a greater opportunity to influence government decision-making,” the Premier said.

The Mackay-Isaac-Whitsunday forum was one of seven held in regional centres across Queensland.