Hodgett/Macfarlane – Commonwealth and Victoria welcome $10 million Alcoa worker support

· Commonwealth Government and Victorian Coalition Government
welcome Alcoa’s announcement of $10 million support for affected workers
· $5 million contribution to Geelong Region Innovation and
Investment Fund
· Alcoa also to provide $4 million for ongoing skills and
training for Alcoa employees and $1 million to the Yennora community

The Commonwealth Government and Victorian Coalition Government welcome Alcoa’s announcement today that it will contribute $10 million towards helping support outgoing workers, Australian Minister for Industry Ian Macfarlane and Victorian Minister for Manufacturing David Hodgett said today.

Minister Macfarlane said the announcement that Alcoa would contribute $5 million to the Geelong Region Innovation and Investment Fund (GRIIF), $4 million for ongoing skills and training programs for Alcoa employees in Geelong and Yennora, and $1 million to the Yennora community, would assist affected workers.

“This is a positive step by Alcoa, and shows a commitment to supporting its workers both in Victoria and New South Wales through this difficult time,” Mr Macfarlane said.

“Alcoa’s contribution to GRIIF will build on the work already done to support the Geelong manufacturing sector, and create jobs in the local community. Both levels of Government and Ford have agreed to this contribution.”

The Commonwealth Government, Victorian Coalition Government and Ford have already announced a total of $8.4 million from the GRIIF, which will create 280 jobs in the Geelong region. The second round is now open.

Minister Hodgett said the $5 million contribution from Alcoa means there will be $21.1 million available under the GRIIF, which can be used to support the manufacturing sector and displaced workers from Alcoa and Ford.

“The Victorian Coalition Government has shown a firm commitment to supporting our local manufacturing industry in the wake of announcements from Ford, Holden, Toyota and Alcoa that they will be reducing their local operations,” Mr Hodgett said.

“In addition to the GRIIF, the Coalition Government is making a $12 million contribution to the Australian Government’s $155 million Growth Fund to support the manufacturing sector and its workers in the wake of Holden and Toyota’s announcements that they will cease manufacturing in Australia.

“The Coalition Government also announced this week that $30 million has been allocated in the 2014/15 State Budget to reskilling automotive supply chain workers, including setting up drop in centres for careers advice in Geelong and other affected areas, and providing funding for re-training.

“Today’s announcement is positive news for Alcoa workers who face an uncertain future, and the Coalition Government will continue working to secure the future of Victorian manufacturing,” Mr Hodgett said.