Gladys Berejiklian tries to woo young voters with a major jobs package aimed at NSW youth

Her government is on the nose with young people over music festival regulations and pill testing, now Gladys Berejiklian has dropped a big youth policy.

Her government is on the ropes with young voters, illustrated once again last week when thousands rallied against controversial new regulations on music festivals.

The Liberal government has long-battled to win over youth in the state due to the introduction of the contentious lockout laws, a refusal to allow pill testing and now a new crackdown on festival licensing.

Thousands gathered in Sydney last week, with many brandishing signs that point the finger of blame directly at NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian.

Today, the Premier announced a major jobs creation plan prioritising young people across the state — the first of many anticipated policies aimed at youth.

With less than a month until the election, which polling shows will be neck-and-neck, the Premier pledged to create 250,000 new jobs over the next four years.

Western Sydney and regional NSW will be a key focus, as will the creation of opportunities for young people with the establishment of two vocational high schools and two additional Productivity Bootcamps.

“We are prioritising young people trying to get into a trade with the bootcamp program and at the same time giving those whose ambition is to learn a trade the opportunity to do so through new vocational high schools,” Ms Berejiklian said.

Related story: Massive police presence and arrests at final Secret Garden Festival in Camden amid NSW ‘war on festivals’

New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian announcing a 250,000 new jobs pledge targeting young people. Picture: AAP

The NSW government is on the nose with young voters over the so-called ‘war on music festivals’. Picture: AAP

The vocational high schools will be located in Sydney and on the state’s north coast.

Ms Berejiklian announced $17 million for each site to fund the construction of specialist training facilities at two existing schools.

The two schools will train students in specialist skills while still allowing time to study a trade while completing the HSC.

Courses will include construction, electro-technology, hospitality, metal and engineering, and primary industries.

The music industry holding a rally in Hyde Park last week, after the NSW Government announced plans to enforce new restrictions on festivals. Picture: AAP

Ms Berejiklian said the Productivity Bootcamp program, which currently operates at Quakers Hill and Penrith, will also expand to two more locations in western Sydney and the south coast.

Over an intensive eight-week course, participants work on-site at a major infrastructure project and provides fully-subsidised skills training. Life skills, like effective communications, work ethic and time management, are also taught.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian meets with construction industry trainees during a visit to the Productivity Bootcamp. Picture: AAP

“Our record infrastructure pipeline has been the key driver for this jobs growth and we simply cannot afford to take our foot off the pedal,” Ms Berejiklian said.

Since 2011, more than 600,000 new jobs have been created and NSW has the lowest unemployment rate on record at 3.9 per cent.