Ken O'Dowd (Flynn, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I wish inform the House of the LNG process operator traineeship program introduced to Gladstone this week. ConocoPhillips, QGC and GLNG have partnered with Energy Apprenticeship Group, EAG, and the Central Queensland University to develop a tailor-made LNG operator training program for Gladstone. The program will see locals from Flynn with no prior LNG experience gain the qualifications to apply for LNG-processing operator roles in the three plants on Curtis Island.

There will be an annual intake of trainees into the program, which kicks off this week with the first intake of 18 trainees—six for each plant. The traineeship includes both classroom and on-the-job training. The trainees will initially be employed by EAG during their training period. Trainees will graduate in about 12 months with certificate III national qualifications. ConocoPhillips contributed to the purpose-built, small-scale version of an LNG plant—worth more than $1 million—for trainees to get practical experience.

This is fantastic news for Gladstone and Central Queensland because it is all about new jobs for the local people. In future, this program will develop as the plants develop. I have been a strong supporter of jobs for Central Queensland, and this only helps our cause.