Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

asked the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations, upon notice, on 16 February 2011:

As at 25 January 2011:

(1) What amount of funding has been spent and/or committed as part of the $10 million allocated to assist displaced workers under the South Australian Innovation and Investment Fund (SAIIF).

(2) (a) How many workers have received funding under this part of the program; and

(b) are all of these workers former employees of Mitsubishi; if not, in which businesses were the recipients employed.

(3) How much funding (on an annual basis) remains uncommitted under the SAIIF.

Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The answer to the honourable senator's question is as follows:

(1) The amount of funding spent under the Mitsubishi Labour Adjustment Package, which forms part of the SAIIF, to assist displaced workers directly affected by the closure of the company's Tonsley Park plant in Adelaide (as at 25 January 2011) was $5.8 million out of the $10 million originally committed to the Mitsubishi Labour Adjustment Package.

(2) (a) As at 25 January 2011, there was a total of 2,367 job seekers who received support as a result of funding provided under the Mitsubishi Labour Adjustment Package.

(b) Apart from Mitsubishi workers, others were employed at the following eligible suppliers: Aunde Trin Pty Ltd, Ceva Logistics, Continental Corporation (Siemens), Custom Cartons, Exacto Plastics, ISS Facility Services, Tenneco Automotive, TI Automotive.

(3) Of the $50 million allocated to the SAIIF: As at 25 January 2011 there is $7.4 million uncommitted funds under the $30 million industry development component of the SAIIF. This is made up of a Commonwealth component of $6.7 million and a South Australian Government component of $0.7 million. There is also $4.2 million uncommitted funds under the $10 million Mitsubishi Labour Adjustment Package. The $10 million allocated to the infrastructure development projects is administered by the South Australian Government.