HELP THE NORTH
Norlane, Corio unemployment soars to 20 per cent Lobby group plea for governments to step in
A MAJOR Geelong lobby group has proposed an affirmative action-style scheme for the city’s northern suburbs jobseekers, as the unemployment rate in Norlane and Corio hits a whopping 20 per cent.
G21 Geelong Region Alliance has called on both the state and federal governments to guarantee jobs and training opportunities in all major contracts for residents in the city’s disadvantaged northern suburbs.
Norlane and Corio’s unemployment rate is now the second worst in Victoria and 28th worst in Australia.
A LOBBY group has proposed an affirmative action-style scheme for Geelong’s northern suburbs jobseekers, as the unemployment rate in Norlane and Corio hits a whopping 20 per cent.
The unemployment rate in Corio and Norlane rose to the miserable milestone of 20 per cent for the June quarter, according to the latest Small Area Labour Markets (SA2) figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
The suburbs’ unemployment rate is now the second worst in Victoria, and 28th worst in Australia, out of 2090.
Of the wider Geelong and Surf Coast region’s 19 small area markets, 12 saw an increased unemployment rate compared to the previous quarter, with just two seeing improvement.
Newcomb-Moolap had the next highest unemployment rate in the region, at 10.6 per cent, followed by 9.1 per cent in Portarlington, 7.9 per cent in North Geelong-Bell Park, and 7.3 per cent in Geelong.
A major Geelong lobby group is now calling on both the state and federal governments to guarantee jobs and training opportunities in all major contracts for residents in the city’s disadvantaged northern suburbs.
G21 Geelong Region Alliance chief executive Elaine Carbines said both levels of government were spending up on major projects in the region, and needed to make sure investment would create jobs where they were most needed.
“This investment will create much-needed jobs for our community but unless there is a direct effort made to employ people from areas of high unemployment, it is unlikely to turn these worrying statistics around,” Ms Carbines said.
“G21 calls on the state and federal governments to embed the principles of the G21 Regional Opportunities for Work (GROW) program in all contracts. That is to provide some training and job opportunities to people from our most disadvantaged communities.
“For example we want to see such opportunities embedded in all contracts including the Convention Centre, GMHBA Stadium, Waurn Ponds Rail Duplication, Barwon Heads Road Duplication, the Lara Prison construction and the GPAC redevelopment.
Ms Carbines said overall unemployment typically masked the disturbing unemployment figures revealed by the SA2 statistics.
Corio federal Labor MP Richard Marles said his party’s City Partnership modification to the Geelong City Deal would have a greater focus on creating local jobs.
“Corio is a great part of the world with a great community at its heart,” Mr Marles said. “It’s time we had a government that helped Corio reach its potential.”
“That’s what Labor governments are about. That’s why we funded the GRIIF, and why we’ll deliver a City Partnership that will get things built and people working in our community.”
The latest stats come as schools and businesses in Geelong’s north launch a program to create better routes into entry-level jobs for students.
In July representatives from Northern Bay College, Nelson Park School, North Geelong Secondary College, Western Heights College, RPC Technologies, Air Radiators and Thornton Engineering Australia met to discuss how best to push down unemployment in Corio, Whittington, Norlane and Newcomb.
Northern Bay P-12 College principal Fred Clarke said he hoped an improved pathway to employment would help to break the cycle of unemployment in the north.
“Unless there is a direct effort made to employ people from areas of high unemployment, it is unlikely to turn these worrying statistics around.” G21 CHIEF EXECUTIVE ELAINE CARBINES