[Greens-Media] Greens back “Give our kids a start” union rally outside Joyce office

[Jegatheeswaran, Brami (Jegan) (Sen L. Rhiannon)]

MEDIA ALERT
27 June 2016

Greens back “Give our kids a start” union rally outside Joyce office

Greens Senator Lee Rhiannon and Greens New England candidate Mercurius Goldstein will join meat workers and seafarers and their unions at the “Give our kids a start” rally.

WHEN:  11am Wednesday 29 June
WHERE:  Barnaby Joyce’s Tamworth office 5/259 Peel St, Tamworth NSW 2340

The Greens are backing this rally because Barnaby Joyce has failed to support

-          Initiatives to assist young people to find local jobs,

-          Job pathways in the local meat processing industry, and

-          Funding for training at public TAFEs.

Senator Rhiannon said: “Mr Joyce’s unhealthy obsession with promoting the live export trade is robbing New England of jobs.

“The National’s leader is favouring a small handful of employers. Meanwhile towns across New England are losing meat processing jobs due to the lack of restrictions on the numbers of livestock that can be exported.

“The abuse of visas by unscrupulous labour hire firms is also causing the loss of jobs that once provided a large pool of entry level positions into meat processing.

Mr Goldstein said:  "Once again Barnaby Joyce has stood idly by as his Liberal partners in government diverted billions out of the public TAFE system, depriving young people in New England of an opportunity to get a start in their chosen careers.

"Mr Joyce has also dismissed hundreds of local jobs in processing, transportation, packaging and shipping that would flow from supporting the domestic livestock industry over live exports.

"Our communities have endured job losses at Inverell, Coonabarabran, Gunnedah, and a new venture at Armidale is going begging, all because Mr Joyce has failed to act on these opportunities.

"Mr Joyce's unwillingness to support the very industries and public TAFE system that drive jobs in this region make a mockery of his claims to represent people who are doing it tough in New England.

Contact:
Lee Rhiannon (Brami Jegan) 0433054712
Mercurius Goldstein  0434 919 606


Brami Jegan
Communications | Strategy
for Australian Greens Senator Lee Rhiannon

72 Campbell Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010
p: (02) 9211 9523 | m: 0433 054 712

http://lee-rhiannon.greensmps.org.au/

Our Sydney office is on the land of the Gadigal People of the Eora nation.