Andrew Wilkie (Denison, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Prime Minister, in a dreadful development, Cadbury is sacking 50 workers at its Claremont factory. The simple fact is that the factory would not be downsizing if the coalition government had delivered on its 2013 promise to inject $16 million of economic stimulus into the northern suburbs of Hobart through enhancements to the factory. Instead, when Cadbury didn't go ahead with the new visitor centre, the government took the money from the battlers in my electorate and used it elsewhere as a political slush fund. Prime Minister, what will you do to return that stimulus money to Denison? What will you do to help the 50 sacked workers?

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the honourable member for his question. Like him, we were very sad and disappointed to see the reports today of the job losses at Cadbury's Claremont plant. But the honourable member's historical account is one from which I must differ. The coalition pledged $16 million to upgrades at Cadbury's Tasmanian plant in the lead-up to the 2013 election; that is so. But it is also a matter of public record that Cadbury subsequently withdrew its application for those federal government funds, and the funds were then redirected to a Tasmanian jobs and investment fund—and I will come back to that in a moment. Obviously, the decision that's been taken is a commercial matter for Cadbury's parent company, Mondelez, but we understand that these sorts of decisions significantly, grievously, impact workers, their families and the local economy. We're making assistance available to affected workers through the jobactive service, which is connecting jobseekers with employers through a national network of providers in over 1,700 locations, and the What's Next? website and online resources.

The government is also committed to economic development and creating new jobs in Tasmania. Through the Tasmania Jobs and Investment Fund, there are 56 business projects expected to create more than 700 new jobs in Tasmania. As the honourable member will recall, the $16 million of federal money was joined with $8 million of state government money to make a $24 million fund. We're also investing $25 million in the Regional Jobs and Investment Package for Tasmania, which is—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Denison, on a point of order?

Andrew Wilkie (Denison, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, just on relevance: I'd draw the Prime Minister's attention to the second part of the question, about what we can do to help these 50 workers right now.

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Denison will resume his seat. The Prime Minister is being relevant. If there are numbers and parts to the question, it's a matter for the minister answering the question to address them as they will.

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I actually just a moment ago talked about assistance that is available immediately through federal government agencies and programs. But we're also investing $25 million in the Regional Jobs and Investment Package for Tasmania, which is now open for applications. We've committed over—

Ms Collins interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Franklin will cease interjecting.

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

$11.3 million for projects in Tasmania under round 1 of the Building Better Regions Fund.

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Franklin is warned!

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Now, in the Hobart area specifically, I'd note the Tasmania Jobs and Investment Fund is providing $137,000 to Ziggy's Supreme Smallgoods, a specialty smallgoods retail outlet near Hobart, who were here in Canberra last night at the Taste of Tasmania function that I'm sure many honourable members attended; and $1 million to One Atmosphere, towards defence equipment manufacturing, south-east of Hobart—and that is just to name a few. We are boosting investment and generating jobs in Tasmania, right across Tasmania, just as we are right across the nation.