NASH MUST INTERVENE TO PROTECT 70 LOCAL JOBS CUT FROM HMAS ALBATROSS

18 October 2017

Labors Stephen Jones and Fiona Phillips have called on Minister for Regional Development, Senator Fiona Nash, to intervene and ensure 70 proposed job cuts at HMAS Albatross are reversed.

Labor has confirmed Defence is proposing to cut 70 local jobs from Navy Aviation Systems Program Office (NASPO) based in Nowra.

Shadow Minister for Regional Services, Stephen Jones MP, said this was the epitome of hypocrisy on the part of the Liberal and National parties.

The Turnbull Government talks big talk about jobs and supporting regional Australia but have been caught saying one thing and doing another, Stephen Jones said

Senator Nash, the self-appointed Minister for Decentralisation, must show she is also willing to be the Minister for Anti-Recentralisation and step in and stop these cuts.

New figures from the Australian Public Service Commission show that the Liberal and National parties have cut 760 ongoing public service roles from regional NSW since 2014.

760 positions cut from regional Australia at the same time the Government is busy spinning its local jobs mantra.

What utter hypocrisy from the Liberal National parties.

Labors Candidate for Gilmore, Fiona Phillips, said Ann Sudmalis had failed the local community.

These proposed 70 jobs cut from NASPO will have a significant impact on the local community, Fiona Phillips said

We are facing very real pressures around employment locally, particularly youth unemployment.

The job cuts at NASPO must be stopped.

We need a local member who will go into bat for the community. A local MP who will protect local jobs and local industry.

This will affect far more than just those 70 people directly employed at NASPO. This will affect families and the entire local community.

The Turnbull Government is failing regional Australia through its job cuts, cuts to TAFE, regional Universities and attack on low-paid workers.

Gilmore needs a hardworking local member who will stand up for the community. Only, Fiona Phillips and Labor, will stand up for local workers, local services and local jobs.