March 8, 2010Queensland Premier Anna Bligh has announced a flagship partnership with industry to develop a $10 million program to train thousands of workers needed for the new Coal Seam Gas (CSG) and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) industries.
The program will reportedly cater for the up to 18,000 direct and indirect jobs as part of the Government’s election commitment to create 100,000 new jobs in this term of government.
"If Queenslanders are to see the full benefits of the opportunities this new industry will create we need to make sure they can develop the skills they need to harness the boom," Bligh says.
"The eight proposed CSG-LNG projects under consideration across the state will generate unprecedented demand for workers with specific technical skills,” she says.
"It’s essential that our training system is geared to meet industry demand – that’s why we’re developing this program hand in hand with industry."
The Government’s initial investment of $5 million will fund the program over two years, according to Bligh.
"Companies within the industry will match the government’s contribution dollar for dollar when they access training through the program," she says.
The focus of the CSG-LNG Industry Training Program will be on up-skilling present mining industry workers and preparing newcomers with the required skills.
