LNP candidate for Springwood Kirrily Boulton says 3300 manufacturing jobs have been lost in Logan over the past 18 months, a decrease of almost 20 per cent.
“Fewer products are being produced in Queensland and jobs are being exported to other states and overseas,” she said while issuing a party-driven LNP statement which promises a $20 million “Built-in-Queensland” co-marketing campaign.
Ms Boulton is seen as the best chance to upset a sea of red in the south-western corridor, requiring a swing of about 3 per cent to unseat Springwood MP and state minister Mick de Brenni.
Eight state electorates are either within or touch on the Logan local government area. All are held by Labor, and the majority of them with comfortable margins.
LNP Shadow Minister for Manufacturing Andrew Powell said the goal was to make Built-in-Queensland a global brand.
“The LNP’s $20 million fund will help Queensland manufacturers market their products in Australia and overseas,” he said.
“Whether it’s an interstate trade show promoting Queensland manufacturing products, or an emerging international market where there are new opportunities, Queensland manufacturers will be able to apply and access matching funds to promote their Queensland-built products.”
Ms Boulton said it was vitally important to boost the manufacturing sector, and create local manufacturing jobs that will provide a stable future for local families.
“With 234,000 Queenslanders now out of work, youth unemployment the highest in the nation, and the long-term unemployment rate breaking records, we need urgent intervention to get people out of the dole queue and back into work, where they want to be,” Ms Boulton said.
“The LNP will back our great manufacturing businesses by helping them market their products, cutting red tape and guaranteeing they will pay no new taxes under a Deb Frecklington Government.
“The LNP will help Queensland-bred companies to take on the world – and win. Only the LNP has a vision for Queensland’s future – to make Queensland the economic powerhouse of Australia once again… the best place to get a job, get ahead and raise a family.”
