The Baillieu Government’s failure to produce a jobs and growth
plan for regional Victoria has seen more than 30,000 jobs lost in two years, Shadow Minister for Employment, Tim Pallas, said today.

Mr Pallas said Australian Bureau of Statistics November data showed thousands of
Victorians had become unemployed just prior to Christmas.

“The Baillieu Government’s dithering and inaction for two years is revealed in the
latest job figures,” Mr Pallas said.

“There is not a region or metropolitan suburb that has not been hit hard by job
losses.

“In two years the Baillieu Government has sat idle as 31,500 jobs have been lost.

“The November quarter unemployment figures show 14,600 jobs lost, 4700 of those were
full-time jobs and the unemployment rate continues to climb now sitting at 6.1 per cent.

“The job losses will have a significant impact on nearly 15,000 regional families
this Christmas.”

The statistics show:

• Barwon-Western District

       3000 jobs lost in November

       Participation rate dropped from 67.8% to 66.8%

• Central Highlands-Wimmera

       2000 jobs lost in November

       Participation rate dropped from 65.3% to 63.8%

•  Loddon-Mallee

       1900 jobs lost in November

       Participation rate dropped from 59.0% to 58.3%

• Goulburn-Ovens-Murray

       Unemployment rate rose from 5.3% to 6.3%

• All Gippsland

       7600 jobs lost in November

       Unemployment rate rose from 3.6% to 5.0%

       Participation rate dropped from 62.0% to 59.9%

Shadow Minister for Manufacturing Adem Somyurek said the manufacturing sector
continued to be hit hard by Baillieu Government inaction with 24,300 jobs lost.

“The Baillieu Government seem to be taking lessons from Tony Abbott when it comes to hanging out the manufacturing sector to dry,” Mr Somyurek said.

“The November quarter statistics showed 7900 wholesale jobs, 11,900 accommodation and food services jobs, and 10,400 information media and telecommunications had been lost.

“The Baillieu Government’s failure to support Victoria’s manufacturing sector has been evident in its snail pace support of the Victorian car industry.

“It is time the Baillieu Government followed Labor’s lead and produced a jobs and growth plan which will drive the Victorian economy instead of sitting on its hands.”