Queensland election: Labor’s $45m pledge to boost targeted education
Annastacia Palaszczuk has pledged $45m to build and upgrade industry-linked school training facilities to help tackle youth unemployment across Queensland.
Annastacia Palaszczuk has pledged $45m to build and upgrade industry-linked school training facilities to help tackle youth unemployment across Queensland.
Campaigning in Gladstone, the Premier said 26 schools would benefit from the program if Labor was re-elected on October 31, with construction of the projects set to create 150 jobs.
The targeted industries include hydrogen, agriculture, aquaculture, manufacturing and defence maintenance as well as aviation and aerospace. “This is a pathway for students to get the skills they need in the industries that are relevant in their regions,’’ Ms Palaszczuk said.
The projects include a $2.25m upgrade to the trade training centre at Glenala State High School in Ms Palaszczuk’s Inala electorate, and $1.2m to refurbish the science lab at Thuringowa State High School in a marginal Townsville-based seat.
“Everyone of these investments will boost schools’ capacity to prepare students for the jobs of the future,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
The Premier spent day nine of the election campaign visiting the Northern Oil Refinery in the electorate of Gladstone.
Ms Palaszczuk would not say what her government’s post-COVID unemployment target was for Queensland, as she touted her tough border measures.
“Those states that actually put in strict border controls and measures … those economies have been able to come back faster,” she said.
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