The Wauchope Gazette surveyed readers about issues affecting their vote at the state election on March 23. Jobs and employment was number one, followed by environment and forests, support for farmers, roads, and a 24-hour police station for Wauchope.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Eighteen-year-old Chloe O'Brien from Telegraph Point knows the struggle of finding permanent work.
"It has been stressful, pretty difficult," she said.
Over the last two years she has had a number of casual jobs in Port Macquarie only to find her hours drastically reduced or even laid off without notice.
She's happy in her current job in the service industry but would like permanent work.
Ms O'Brien said she hasn't ruled out enrolling in TAFE but doesn't have the financial means to fund further study.
Mid North Coast Business Chamber Regional Manager Kellon Beard said Ms O'Brien's experience isn't unique to young people in Port Macquarie.
He commended the State Government for doing "a pretty good job" when it comes to the economy but said "youth unemployment is a real issue for us."
"We relied so much on the building trade and a lot of building has been automated, people aren't putting on apprentices so we are not seeing that flow through of skills."
The youth unemployment rate for the Mid North Coast which includes Port Macquarie is 10.8 per cent.
This is double the general unemployment rate but lower than other regions such as Coffs/Grafton 24 per cent or the Hunter 13 per cent.
CEO of the Hastings Co-op Allan Gordon said all levels of government needed to work towards a national strategy on youth unemployment.
If you look at the way base level jobs are being automated and the effects this will have over the next decade, unless something substantial is done in terms of having young people working towards the jobs of the future, then I think youth unemployment will continue to be an issue for a long time.
- Allan Gordon
Mr Gordon said he would like to see better infrastructure to attract new business to the region which would "make doing business here easier”.
Another local employer Patrick Cassegrain from Expressway Spares in Wauchope said reducing the payroll tax would be good start to reducing unemployment.
"It is a punitive tax and one that hurts businesses like ours. We would employ more people if we didn’t have this tax."
Principal of Newman Technical College Mark Nunan said preparing young people for the job market was one way of tackling the problem.
He urged politicians to be courageous with any changes to the high school curriculum which is currently under review.
"For too long there has been too great a focus in the curriculum that was designed decades ago on university entry that has little or no relevance to more than 60 per cent of students engaged in it," Mr Nunan said.
We need a flexible curriculum that prepares students for university but we also need a curriculum that motivates and stimulates critical thinkers and problem solvers.
- Mark Nunan
Newman Technical College student Arcadia Meldrum concurred saying her traineeship at Rydges enabled her to gain "core skills" in presentation and communication which have prepared her for the job market.
For Kellon Beard there is a lot more politicians could be doing if they really want to create jobs and economic growth.
"Payroll tax, assisting developing industrial land at Sancrox, planning regulations to make it easier to get businesses off the ground and incentives for kids to go to TAFE to name a few."
What do your state election candidates for Oxley think?
Melinda Pavey, Nationals MP for Oxley
I've worked hard to ensure the Oxley electorate gets its share. And it's paying off.
With the budget in surplus, the Nationals are strategically funding projects that assist business, fix infrastructure and provide social services and employment.
Regional unemployment has dropped from 10.5% to 5.7%.
Many millions of dollars are allocated to repair our rural roads and replace old timber bridges, and there is $2.8 billion to deliver the new regional rail fleet.
We have a new Ambulance Station. There are major works at the Wauchope Public School and on the Highway east and west of Wauchope. Andrews Park lighting is being upgraded and Long Flat, Comboyne and Tele Point will be sewered.
The Nationals are also delivering:
- · payroll tax cuts and cheaper insurance premiums
- · more doctors, nurses and allied health staff
- · more teachers, mental-health workers and air-conditioning for our schools
- · more police, paramedics and firefighters for the frontline
Susan Jenvey, Labor candidate
We need new business in our area. First, we need to consolidate the industries we have – like services, agriculture, timber and tourism. And their futures aren’t secure under the Nationals.
Second, we need to attract a decentralised remote-workers from the capital cities to our area with the lure of lifestyle and affordable housing.
Third, we need to push government to bring jobs to our area.
Fourth, we need to drive jobs of the future – such as organic food, renewable energy and renewable and sustainable timber resources. We are perfectly positioned to provide jobs of the future.
As the world changes, jobs have left the area and we haven’t adjusted. This change is only going to continue. As the climate changes, so too is agriculture. As Asia becomes richer, so too will we benefit in terms of food exports and inbound tourism and education.
Arthur Bain, Greens candidate
Some practical and some utopian ideas:
- fencing, weed eradication and re-vegetation of waterways (employment/training - state-sponsored at minimum wage $720/wk before tax
- agricultural help, for bio-plastics and making paper (industry-funded by tax incentives for investors)
- Plastics Recycling Hub, taking advantage of the new Pacific Highway and the distance from Sydney to Brisbane (industry-funded)
- Construction, renovation and repair of current social housing stock - including installation of solar electric and hot water systems (employment/training - state-sponsored at minimum wage.)
Debbie Smythe, Sustainable Australia candidate
If elected, Sustainable Australia will:
- Push for secure jobs in a more diverse economy. More investment in factories, farms and small businesses. Offer government sponsorship campaigns to promote local industries, including local produce and value-added food products.
- Simplify business regulations. These are well intentioned, but we must not discourage people from going into business.
- Offer subsidies for the uptake of energy-efficiency measures in business.
- Support setting up a regional recycling and materials recovery facility, from which subsidiary industries could develop to use the materials that are produced.
- Expand the courses on offer at TAFE to cover a lot of different industries. This would make Wauchope more attractive for a business to set up here who requires such workers .
- Simplify employment law to encourage small business to hire young people
- Provide government incentives for more on-the-job-training. We believe trainees must be paid.
- Get more funding for TAFE in this region
Dean Saul, Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party candidate
Wauchope is well placed to receive a major economic boost, and jobs growth under the plan by the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers. Being a rural party, often seen as the 'Real Country Party', the proposed Equine Centre, will bring many much needed jobs to Wauchope.
The Equine Centre could be seen as a major attraction to the region, bringing in much needed tourist dollars to the local economy. This Equine centre will require many forms of direct staff. From management positions, and admin, to horse handlers, stable hands along with maintenance staff, cleaners, and of course grounds people.
These are meaningful jobs, so there will be jobs available for people without tertiary qualifications, and of course this Equine Centre can offer younger people a start in their careers. This Equine Centre will see other service industries catering for the expected thousands of visitors to the area given a huge boost.
ALSO MAKING NEWS: