New employment push to deliver much-needed jobs for North Queensland

THE State Government is set to fast-track a series of projects in a bid to create desperately-needed jobs for an ailing Queensland community.

Jobs on-line

NEW road and public works projects will be fast-tracked in North Queensland in a bid to boost employment and counter the 237 jobs cut at Clive Palmer’s Townsville nickel refinery last week.

Ministers will also be given two weeks to identify and recommend priority projects that can be bought on line across the state but particularly in the state’s North.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk met with Under Treasurer Jim Murphy and Transport and Main Roads director-general Neil Scales on Sunday morning to discuss her “accelerated works program” before writing to ministers about the plan.

“We have heard of some job losses in Townsville. People are hurting, families are hurting so we are going to kickstart this year by focussing on the North,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“As part of this jobs drive I have written today to all Ministers asking them to identify shovel-ready projects for the North and across the state.”

While ministers will have two weeks to identify projects, they will have just one week to name those that can help the North.

“All government agencies and businesses will also be asked what projects they can bring forward,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

The Premier said about $60 million worth of projects would be fast-tracked to begin in April.

Other projects identified by ministers and directors-general will go to this year’s first Cabinet meeting on January 25.