By ALANA MITCHELSON
LABOR candidate for McMillan Chris Buckingham held a roundtable meeting with Pakenham industry leaders, discussing the key issues affecting Casey-Cardinia businesses.
Shadow Assistant Treasurer Andrew Leigh joined the McMillan candidate at Melbourne Rotomould (Melro) on Tuesday 14 June, where traffic congestion was nominated as a major issue.
Particular concern surrounded the delays caused near Bald Hill Road when crossing the railway line.
Mr Leigh noted that public sector infrastructure spending had fallen by one-fifth since 2013.
“Labor’s plan for a $10 billion ’concrete bank’ will help identify projects based on their economic value, not on partisan lines,“ Mr Leigh said.
“The electorate in which a project is located shouldn’t matter.“
A number of industry leaders represented at the forum commented on the challenge of finding workers with the right skills for the job.
The roundtable agreed that more could be done in areas of vocational specific training to improve education at the school and college level to better complement indistry jobs.
Melro director Tim Leed, who hosted the roundtable event, highlighted practical skills including problem solving, teamwork, initiative and communication as skills he would like to see prioritised in Australia’s school system.
“Improving our schools and vocational training programs will be core business for a Shorten Government,“ Mr Buckingham said.
“Needs-based school funding will benefit students throughout Australia and raising the standards in vocational training will be critical to making sure young people have the skills they need for the jobs of the future.
“Australian manufacturing has a future if we work together and make a conscious decision to purchase locally-made products and services.
“Labor recognises the need to listen to industry leaders and work in partnership to deliver jobs and prosperity in our community.“
Casey-Cardinia Business Group, Tynong apple packing facility 9 Mile Fresh, plastics manufacturing plant Melbourne RotoMould, Ausnet and testing facility M-Innovation were among business groups represented at the forum.
