Impacted workers from the Churchill abattoir closure in Queensland are set to benefit from the State Government’s assistance for major meat processors and exporters aimed at hiring these workers and workers who lost their jobs from related shutdowns.
Namely, the Palaszczuk Government will provide assistance for every full-time equivalent (FTE) position offered by JBS Australia – Australia’s largest meat and food processor – at Wacol and Dinmore.
The company has already confirmed that it can immediately offer 186 jobs with this assistance and hopefully be able to hire an additional 214 workers in the next year.
“My Government is determined to help Queenslanders get back to work and I am pleased that through our Jobs and Regional Growth Fund, we are able to help workers displaced by the closure of the Churchill abattoir into employment at JBS at Wacol and Dinmore,” Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said.
“After the cutting and sacking by LNP Government and Tim Nicholls, my Government has restored opportunity and reinforced the belief in government of dignity in work.”
Around 290 workers lost their jobs as a result of the Churchill abattoir closure and related shutdowns in the Ipswich region last month; more workers are expected to become redundant next year with the closure of Woolworths’ boning facility and Steggles’ processing plant.
“I met with representatives from JBS when I convened a Working Queensland Cabinet Committee in Ipswich last month at the request of the Premier to discuss local employment. Today’s announcement is proof that we are a Government that listens to locals and assists communities through job-creating programs,” said Treasurer Curtis Pitt.
According to Employment Minister Grace Grace, the Palaszczuk Government’s 177.5 million Back to Work jobs package is the best example of its commitment to jobs.
“Back to Work is putting thousands of Queenslanders into jobs throughout the State. It’s already supporting more than 7,500 jobs and there are hundreds more applications being processed,” she said.
“With support payments of up to $20,000 available to eligible employers, it’s providing the perfect incentive to help businesses hire while injecting valuable dollars into local economies.”
For more detailed information, former Churchill employees can contact DSD on 07 3432 2412 or seqwest@dsd.qld.gov.au.
