‘Nonsensical’ decision excludes region from stimulus program

A “NONSENSICAL” decision has seen Toowoomba excluded from the State Government’s Back to Work program.

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A "NONSENSICAL" decision has seen Toowoomba excluded from the State Government's Back to Work program.

The Back to Work program was last month extended through to June 30 as part of a $90 million State Government stimulus package announced by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.

"I am determined to stop a cycle of generational unemployment where young people fall out of the labour market," she said at the time. 

But not, it would seem, in Toowoomba.

The Back to Work program has two streams - one for south-east Queensland and one for regional Queensland.

Toowoomba is not included in either.

Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce CEO Todd Rohl said the State Government needed to explain why Toowoomba was not included in the Back to Work employer support and apprentice and trainee boost payments program.

"Many businesses in the region applied for stimulus package opportunities to ensure local business survived and jobs maintained during the ongoing national COVID-19 crisis," he said.

"The Back to Work initiative provides another opportunity to create jobs, upskill the workforce and assist in the rebuild of the local economy and needs to be extended to Toowoomba businesses."

Mr Rohl said the Toowoomba Chamber Jobs Taskforce raised youth unemployment as a concern for the region that warranted immediate attention.

"Lack of opportunity to access apprentice and trainee boost payments simply creates another barrier to employment for our city's future leaders," he said.

"The Toowoomba Chamber is calling on the State Government to amend the program to include the Toowoomba region to create and secure jobs for Toowoomba residents.

"It seems nonsensical that south-east Queensland local government areas of Moreton, Ipswich and Logan are included but not Toowoomba."

Yesterday Toowoomba Regional Council took a similar view and passed a motion that Mayor Paul Antonio urgently contact the Premier requesting Toowoomba Region businesses be made eligible for State Government support under the Back to Work initiatives.

Deputy Mayor Cr Geoff McDonald said: "There is an inconsistency with the program, and Toowoomba region residents are missing out because of a stroke of a pen."

"This decision disadvantages our local businesses, and I question its fairness," Cr McDonald said,

"Employer Support Payments of up to $15,000 are available to eligible employers who hire an eligible unemployed Queenslander in regional or South East Queensland.

"Apprentice and Trainee Boost payments of up to $20,000 are available to employers who hire an unemployed Queenslander as an apprentice or trainee in regional Queensland or eligible areas of South East Queensland.

"Toowoomba Region is excluded from these support programs despite other regional and south-east Queensland local governments' being eligible."